Vancouver-based Clarius Mobile Health released its third-generation handheld wireless scanners, Monday, January 17, showcasing the 10 new HD3 devices in an hourlong innovation spotlight.
The devices, cleared by the U.S. FDA and currently available for purchase only within the United States, are no bigger than an iPhone and deliver high-definition, hospital-performance imaging to clinicians in every specialty.
Thirty percent smaller and lighter, Clarius HD3 devices deliver up to eight times faster frame rates and micron-level resolution when compared to other handhelds.
Previous generations of the device remain available and in use in 90 countries worldwide and have been used to perform nearly two million scans to date.
Use in a silent rupture study
“Ultrasound scans were performed using a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared, hand-held, high-resolution ultrasound scanner…that transmitted images to a tablet screen for visualization,” says a January 2022 silent rupture study by Marc Salzman, M.D., in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Those hand-held devices were manufactured by Clarius, of which Dr. Salzman is a proponent.
In October 2020, the board-certified plastic surgeon shared accolades with the company that emphasized the benefits of ultrasound imaging and the use of Clarius devices in plastics.
Following publication of his study, in a January 19, 2022 discussion with Dr. Robert Hamas, the founder and CEO of Ideal Implant Inc., Dr. Salzman also said he believes access to such high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) technology would improve proper surveillance of breast implants, helping patients to know if their implants were intact and problem-free.
His study had discovered that 1 in 10 women with silicone gel breast implants may have a silent rupture of which they’re unaware,
HRUS devices are vastly cheaper and more accessible than MRI, which can cost up to $1,500 per visit, whereas a plastic surgery practice could offer HRUS for a “modest investment” of up to $10,000 for equipment and training, and at a cost of approximately $250 per scan.
New Clarius price point, membership bundle
As part of its roll out of the new HD3 devices, Clarius announced an updated price point and membership bundle that make the devices that provide high-definition ultrasound even more accessible across medical specialties.
The new U.S.-only membership provides access to all advanced software, enhanced education options, and unlimited exam management in the Clarius Cloud.
“Starting today, premium hospital-performance handheld ultrasound is more accessible to more clinicians than ever with our most affordable package yet,” said Clarius CEO Laurent Pelissier.
“Clarius HD3 scanners now start at $2,995 with an annual membership that unlocks all innovation, with the continued flexibility to make a one-time purchase.”
New Clarius Ultrasound App
Along with the new handheld devices, an app is available to new and existing Clarius users. It provides AI and imaging features that further improve image quality.
Software packages and features enable clinicians in various fields to personalize their imaging experience.
“The new Advanced Breast, Obstetrics, Musculoskeletal, Plastic Surgery, Vascular, and Veterinary Packages deliver advanced workflows, comprehensive measurements, and fine-tuned imaging for medical specialists,” says Kris Dickie, VP of R&D at Clarius.
“HD Zoom packs more pixels into a small area of focus, full-screen mode fully utilizes the entire mobile screen, while trapezoidal imaging expands the field of view.”
Clarius CEO Laurent Pelissier says the company’s R&D team has effectively miniaturized the high-performance and traditionally cart-based ultrasound systems into a form that feels like a traditional ultrasound probe, and replaced the typically complex buttons and knobs with artificial intelligence that optimizes imaging.