Barco's custom imaging technology selected for ZONARE's next-generation ultrasound system
KORTRIJK, BELGIUM, 30 June 2005 - Barco has been selected by medical device company ZONARE Medical Systems, Mountain View, CA, USA, to develop and manufacture a custom-made 13" flat display for its innovative z.one ultrasound-platform. Combining Barco’s high-grade imaging expertise and ZONARE's innovative ultrasound technology, the new ultrasound system provides an ingenious solution for a wide variety of imaging needs in obstetrics, gynecology, vascular and other emerging ultrasound applications.
"For this project, we have engineered an advanced, custom-made display solution, tuned to the high standards of ZONARE's innovative ultrasound system", explains Thierry Watteyne, Market Director Barco Modality OEM solutions. "Based on our long-standing experience in ultrasound imaging, we developed a 13" flat panel display which successfully unites the accuracy of CRT-based ultrasound monitors with the compactness and user-comfort of flat panel technology. Because of this, our solution represents a new, strategic step in the transition from CRT to LCD-based technology for high-quality ultrasound imaging."To ensure optimum image quality at all times, Barco equipped its new ultrasound display with innovative I-Guard technology, which continually guards and adjusts the luminance output of the diagnostic viewing area. The compact, front-mounted sensor truly sees what users see, thereby ensuring excellent image quality over time.
Barco's new 13" flat panel display is being integrated in ZONARE's new z.one platform, which combines a significant advance in ultrasound technology with an innovative physical design to achieve maximum customer value. The flexibility provided by this new Zone Sonography technology offers clinical solutions for a wide variety of imaging needs in obstetrics, gynecology, vascular and other emerging ultrasound applications. The new architecture has also allowed ZONARE Medical Systems to bring the first Convertible Ultrasound platform to the industry with high image quality at a substantial price to value ratio. It allows the clinician to quickly convert the z.one platform from a full-featured cart system into a compact, portable system with all the quality and performance of substantially larger and more expensive ultrasound units, yet, with significantly higher performance than previous compact systems. Unlike other compact systems, the cart has a full user interface that works like a conventional ultrasound system.
Other advantages of Zone Sonography technology include a fundamentally new approach to data acquisition and image formation. The system acquires data quickly in relatively few large zones rather than many narrow lines, which enables more rapid image storage, processing and display. ZONARE's z.one system aggregates the original channel data and stores all of this information in Channel Domain Memory. All of the echo information is then utilized in Channel Domain Processing to form the image and to provide greater options for image post processing by retaining all of the original raw data.
The z.one system is now available for commercial sale and has been shipping since Q1 of 2005.
About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, provides visualization and display solutions for professional markets. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco is active worldwide and has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barco is quoted on Euronext Brussels and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company (Euronext: BAR; Reuters: BARBt.BR; Bloomberg: BAR BB).
About ZONARE Medical Systems, Inc.
Zonare Medical Systems, Inc. designs, develops, and manufactures high performance ultrasound solutions, which combine revolutionary technology with an innovative physical design. Zone Sonography technology, Zonare's unique patented approach to ultrasound imaging, is focused on bringing premium performance to all clinical settings, leading to enhanced diagnostic capabilities, more cost effective operation and increased value to providers. For more information, please visit our web site at www.zonare.com.
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