Agilent Technologies Features New Imaging Capabilties for Agilent SONOS 5500 and 4500; Echocardiology Platforms as Works in Progress at ACC 2000.

Healthcare Writers

ACC 2000

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2000

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) will feature new capabilities for its flagship SONOS 5500/4500 digital echocardiography systems as works in progress at the American College of Cardiology conference (ACC 2000), being held at the Anaheim Convention Center March 12-15 (Agilent Booth No. 3605). These improvements, which will be made available later this year, include enhanced harmonic and contrast imaging capabilities, as well as new Ultraband transducers.

The Agilent SONOS family is the world's best selling echocardiography platform, providing unparalleled image quality, quantitative tools, measurements and system features designed specifically for the evaluation of cardiac and vascular anatomy, function and viability.

"The SONOS family remains at the pinnacle of cardiac ultrasound capabilities and technology," said Greg Petras, general manager of Agilent's Imaging Systems Division. "We will maintain this leadership position by continually improving the platform with enhanced image quality and new functionality."

Breakthrough Contrast Imaging Capabilities

Agilent's new Power Modulation and a low-frequency S3 Ultraband transducer are at the core of a series of new breakthroughs in contrast imaging on the SONOS platform. Optimized system settings in all contrast modes minimize the need for system manipulation -- making contrast imaging easier to perform.

The SONOS 5500 features Agilent's innovative real-time Myocardial Contrast Enhancement (MCE) imaging for contrast research use. Power Modulation enables the non-destructive detection of contrast agents using a low transmit power. Thus, myocardial microcirculation and wall motion function can be viewed simultaneously. Real-time imaging significantly increases ease of use by removing the need for ECG triggered acquisition. Additionally, this feature allows visualization of myocardial re-flow after clearing the myocardium of contrast agents using a short series of higher power frames.

Agilent's breakthrough Ultraharmonic 2-D MCE imaging improves the accuracy and usability of triggered MCE research studies by removing tissue motion artifacts. The system selectively detects contrast agents by transmitting at 1.3MHz and receiving at 3.6MHz, beyond the tissue harmonic frequency at 2.6MHz.

When performing Harmonic Angio for MCE, the S3 transducer enhances contrast agent visualization in the entire myocardium, particularly in the lateral and anterior walls. The increased depth of field on the S3 transducer distributes ultrasound energy more uniformly, and lower frequency bursts contrast agents more effectively. The result is improved sensitivity to contrast agents throughout the image sector.

Enhanced Harmonic Imaging

Power Modulation and the S3 transducer also combine to produce enhanced harmonic imaging. The lower frequency used by the S3 generates larger and more uniform tissue harmonic signals. Power Modulation then enhances the harmonic signal by subtracting fundamental tissue signals from the image. The resulting pure harmonic signal is displayed. The result is enhanced endocardial border delineation, particularly on difficult-to-image patients, especially in the apex, lateral and anterior walls.

Soft Echo Imaging

Agilent is also unveiling a new Soft Echo imaging feature, designed to enhance the visualization of low-level signals from anatomy and pathology such as plaques, thrombi, clots or vegetations. Soft Echo utilizes a new Harmonic Ultraband c3540 CLA transducer and optimized system parameters, such as dynamic range, post processing and persistence to visualize soft tissue. The new transducer also provides enhanced B-mode resolution and tissue texture, enhanced color and Doppler performance and improved ergonomics.

About Agilent's Healthcare Solutions Group

Agilent's Healthcare Solutions Group is a worldwide leader in clinical measurement and diagnostic solutions for the healthcare industry. The group has 4,800 employees and had revenues of more than $1.5 billion in its 1999 fiscal year.

Agilent holds leading market share worldwide in patient monitoring, cardiovascular ultrasound imaging and for critical-care information-management systems. Information about Agilent's Healthcare Solutions Group can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com/healthcare/.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) is a diversified technology company, resulting from Hewlett-Packard Company's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies. With 42,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. The businesses comprising Agilent, a subsidiary of HP, had net revenues of more than $8.3 billion in fiscal year 1999.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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