Interested in how a somo•v™ exam works?

 A complete ABUS exam takes about 15 minutes to complete from the time the patient first enters the exam room. The ABUS operator positions the patient on the exam table, where she will lay comfortably for the entire ABUS exam. Unlike mammography, most women report the ABUS procedure to be painless, but some women with very sensitive breast tissue have complained about minor discomfort during the scanning process.

Before starting the exam, the ABUS operator attaches a sheer membrane to the ultrasound scanner. A layer of lightly scented coupling lotion is then applied to the breast, which ensures good contact between the ultrasound transducer and the skin so that a 3D picture may be captured of the breast tissue between the skin and the chest wall. To ensure the best image quality, the sheer stabilizing membrane of the somo•v ABUS is firmly positioned on the breast during scanning, which gently flattens the breast tissue against the body and prevents breast movement. 

The operator initiates the scanning process by pressing the start button. First, a 10-second preview scan automatically determines the patient's unique breast tissue signature so the ideal ultrasound imaging parameters can be set by the software. Then, the actual image acquisition scan begins and lasts about 60 seconds. The technologist follows the acquisition on the display monitor in real-time to ensure proper breast coverage and tissue contact during the scan.  When the scan is complete, the technologist reviews the image on the monitor and uses the touch-screen to confirm the nipple location, breast and view type. Typically, three scans are performed on each breast for a complete scan of the breast volume.

After all of the required images have been captured, the patient exam is complete and the patient leaves the room. The 3D ultrasound images are then sent to the somo•VIEWer workstation for storage and where the physician may review them at any time, either immediately following the exam or at a later point in the patient's care.