OAKVILLE, Ont. – Siemens Healthineers in Canada has announced the launch of the ACUSON S Family HELX Evolution TOUCH. Following years of work with research and university centres to develop an advanced ultrasound solution with a focus solely on the end-user, Siemens Healthineers has developed a system that is applicable in multiple clinical settings, from a community clinic to a university research centre.

The TOUCH comes with three configurations: a clinically dedicated platform, the S1000 provides a base model that is more affordable, while providing a premium platform.

From the S1000 model, other features can be added to increase performance and power, resulting in an ‘a la carte’ system that can be customized to meet specific user needs and requirements.

The second configuration is the S2000, which has features that focus on general imaging, women’s health, and shared services; and the final configuration is the S3000, featuring advanced technology, which is designed for use in interventional radiology.

“We’ve spent the last several years focusing on research and development in the ultrasound marketplace. Rather than rush to market with new ultrasound equipment, we have taken the time needed to focus on developing a product range that addresses the common challenges and complaints we hear from the sonographer and radiology community,” said Benoit Sai, country business lead, ultrasound, Siemens Healthineers.

“The TOUCH finally represents an ultrasound solution developed by and for the end user, and is the most usable and flexible system available in the marketplace.”

With two years of research and development, 400 user interviews, 170 usability sessions with sonographers and radiologists, and a $2 million usability study, Siemens Healthineers has developed an a la carte menu of choice in ultrasound systems that serve 70% of the market.

The TOUCH provides users with 44% fewer clicks required, 33% fewer total keys, a simplified home-base control structure, and a laser optical trackball that enables heightened sensitivity and accuracy in measurements, while helping to reduce repetitive strain injuries.

A recently published usability study from Macadamian Technologies of the ACUSON TOUCH S3000 system shows that the 170 testers found the system to be simple and easy to use, with a 95% average task completion rate and an overall average ease-of-use rating of 4.5 out of 5, where ‘5’ represents ‘very easy to use.’

In addition, the sonographers testing the system also scored the ACUSON TOUCH S3000 at 83 out of 100 on the industry standard System Usability Scale Questionnaire. Scores over 80 are considered well above average; with scores below 60 tend towards poor usability. An average score is 681.

Receiving Health Canada approval in February 2016, the TOUCH has been available in the United States for over a year, where it has received positive feedback and has been embraced by sonographers and radiologists.

The ACUSON TOUCH S3000 was awarded a ‘Best in KLAS’ award in the Ultrasound – General Imaging’ category for 2014. KLAS is an independent healthcare research organization based in the US that collects data from a series of surveys conducted with hospital and clinic executives, administrators, physicians, nurses, and other directors and managers.

The ACUSON TOUCH S3000 was rated highest among its competitors’ systems with an overall score of 91 out of 100, surpassing the previous year’s winner.

Siemens Healthineers’ history in developing ultrasound systems stretches back to 1967 when it introduced the first real-time ultrasound scanner, followed by the introduction of wireless transducers in 2012.