Terason Presents Proprietary Portable-Ultrasound Technology to NASA Scientists
Terason(TM), Division of Teratech Corporation, on invitation by the NASA Medical Informatics and Technology Applications Consortium (MITAC), presented its proprietary ultrasound processing technology to key NASA scientists and invited physicians at an invitation-only conference, July 24 and 25, 2000, Houston, Texas, at the Nassau Bay Hilton, directly across from Johnson Space Center.
The conference
addressed medical needs and challenges related to the exploration of space and
human space flight, specifically to help identify state-of-the art
technologies that may be of use to NASA as it prepares for space station
operations and future missions to Mars and other planets.
Ultrasound
technology is viewed by NASA as a potential substitute for physician-conducted
physical examinations of space travelers.
The advanced microsystem technology
developed by Terason has the low weight, low power consumption, and high
efficiency to qualify as an ideal diagnostic tool for space missions.
Conference co-chairs, Dr. Jay Sanders, Scientific Director for MITAC and
President of The Global Telemedicine Group, and Dr. Richard Satava, Professor
of Surgery, Yale University, asked Terason to provide a summary of the unique
Terason technology and how it would effectively substitute for a typical
physical examination during space flight.
Presenting to distinguished
physicians and scientists from the United States and Canada, Steve Broadstone,
D. Sc., Vice President, Research & Development for Terason, and Gail Buurma,
Vice President, Sales, described the technology and how its implementation in
the Terason(TM)2000 Handheld Ultrasound System parallels NASA requirements,
particularly with its lightweight system-in-a-probe design and its suitability
for space-to-earth telemedicine.
The new Terason system features a 10-ounce Terason SmartProbe(TM) and
linkage to off-the-shelf PC formats.
Remarkably, through its unique charge-
domain processing (CDP) technology, this ultraportable handheld ultrasound
system offers the high quality images of larger conventional systems.
Other
imaging modalities, such as CT or MRI, are currently incompatible with space
travel because of equipment size and weight, radiation hazards, and magnetic
fields.
Ultrasound, on the other hand, is considered to have the greatest
potential for medical imaging in space.
Terason is an innovator in the design and development of diagnostic
microsystems.
Incorporated in 1993, the company sought to provide low-cost,
low-power, fast product-cycle solutions to imaging and signal-processing
challenges.
As the first product division of Teratech Corporation, Terason is
the global leader in providing high-resolution, miniaturized medical
ultrasound imaging systems implemented on standard PC architecture.
