News | Press Releases

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November 26, 2021

Canon Medical signals its support for a multicenter ultrasound liver evaluation and assessment study.

Otawara, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, 26 November 2021 - Canon Medical announced today its support for the iLEAD (innovative Liver, Elasticity, Attenuation and Dispersion) study, an international multicenter study aiming to evaluate quantitative ultrasound imaging tools against liver biopsy (the current clinical gold standard), available on the Aplio Liver Package for the assessment of Steatosis, Fibrosis, and Inflammation in the clinical environment.

This Multicenter study is focusing on the assessment of NASH (Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis) using non-invasive innovative ultrasound liver imaging techniques against the current gold standard of liver biopsy. Researchers from China, Japan, South Korea, USA and Europe, aim to recruit over 200 patients for the study and to compare their results. Researchers believe that the non-invasive ultrasound diagnostics can provide a faster, safer, and more readily available assessment of NASH that may benefit patients by earlier detection, treatment and follow up.

The Aplio system now boasts three separate technologies and an integrated multi-parametric reporting capability that brings quantifiable imaging of the liver into the daily routine.

• Shear Wave Elastography (SWE)
• Shear Wave Dispersion (SWD)
• Attenuation Imaging (ATI)

These tools include safe, non-invasive, robust, and reproducible quantitative assessment of liver.

The global burden of liver disease, along with its significant individual, community and financial implications, has driven ultrasound development of non-invasive, safe tools. These can be utilized to diagnose and follow up patients at risk of steatosis, with implications for not only severe liver disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Aplio i-series, first launched in 2016, is widely used for premium performance abdominal imaging. The development of non-invasive assessment and staging tools for liver disease has the potential to reach into the community to provide quantitative health data that supports the management of liver disease, regardless of population location.

“This is an exciting step in the validation of non-invasive tools for the assessment and management of liver disease” said representative researcher, Prof. Fuminori Moriyasu, Professor & Director, Center for Cancer Ablation Therapy, International University of Health and Welfare, Sanno Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
“The liver tools provided by the Aplio result from over 50 years of technological development, knowledge and expertise, combined with strong collaboration with global clinical partners,” said Akihiro Sano, General Manager, Ultrasound, Canon Medical.

The Multicenter study is targeting RSNA 2022 to present its findings; with interim findings released as appropriate.

Aplio is a trademark of Canon Medical Systems Corporation.