Philips’ Sparq ultrasound system brings clarity and ease-of-use at point of care

15 November 2011

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. Philips is showcasing its Sparq point-of-care ultrasound system in both Germany and the USA this week — at MEDICA in Dusseldorf (16-19 Nov), and at the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) in New Orleans (17-20 Nov).

Sparq is a mobile system designed to provide immediate, intuitive ultrasound imaging for guidance during regional anesthesia and pain medicine procedures and at the bedside to examine critically ill patients in emergency departments and critical care units.

Sparq’s unique intuitive dynamic user interface, intelligent automation and outstanding image quality combine to make the system easy to learn and use.

Sparq has several key distinguishing features:

Customer-driven design. An ergonomic design, with height adjustment and a 17-inch monitor on an articulating arm provides flexibility for Sparq to be used in challenging clinical environments. It offers a long battery life and an overall small footprint that provides mobility and access at the bedside. The sealed, easy-to-clean tempered glass control panel facilitates cleaning.
Simpler scanning. Sparq is designed with an Intuitive Dynamic interface that eliminates knobs and buttons and Simplicity Mode, a one-touch solution that presents only the ultrasound functions that are used most often. An AutoSCAN feature continuously adjusts the image while scanning, reducing the need for interaction with system controls during the procedure.
Easy procedure guidance. Needle Visualization enhances the presentation of the needle without degrading the image, facilitating quick needle guidance. The system also features an on-screen gridline display that provides a visual target and distance estimation.

“The simplicity of its design and the intuitiveness of its user interface make Sparq a pleasure to use,” Barry Nichols, consultant in anesthesia and pain management, Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation, Musgrove Hospital said. “Sparq’s ergonomically efficient controls and high resolution screen really benefit our clinicians’ day-to-day workflows. A compact and highly mobile device, it is also perfect to use in the operating theatre environment.”

Sparq offers a wide range of clinical applications specially designed for emergency medicine, critical care, ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and pain medicine including nerve, spine, musculoskeletal, musculoskeletal superficial, vascular access, cardiac and TEE, and lung. The device can also be equipped with advanced service capabilities including online support, proactive monitoring to anticipate problems, utilization reports to help hospitals manage assets and increase efficiency, and remote desktop service, which allows for virtual on-site visits for both clinical and technical support.

“A great deal of effort went into Sparq’s features and design to meet the specific needs of our point-of-care customers,” Conrad Smits, general manager, Ultrasound, for Philips Healthcare said. “Our goal is for Sparq to simplify the use of ultrasound for clinicians, and enable them to provide the best care possible.”