A new class of miniaturized, all-digital ultrasound devices is about to be introduced in Japan by SonoSite Inc., promising to improve patient care and dramatically cut costs for medical facilities nationwide.
The first product the maker from Bothell, Wash., plans to launch in Japan this year is the battery-powered SonoSite 180, the world's first hand-carried ultrasound system weighing less than 13 kg. Although the machine costs 10 times less than larger, cart-based ultrasound devices, it produces comparable high-quality images, the company says. In the United States the SonoSite 180 sells for around $20,000 per unit.
Under a distribution deal with Olympus Optical Co., SonoSite will initially target its 180 system for use in gynecology, obstetrics, urology and general purpose abdominal imaging. The market in Japan for SonoSite ultrasound products is estimated to be worth $200 million annually, according to David Gusdorf, SonoSite vice president of strategic development.