This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

The following was in an article from CTVbc - Canada
http://tinyurl.com/y8bjcrc

Meanwhile in Italy, one of the companies that manufactures the ultrasound machines used in the testing for CCSVI, is beginning to hold training sessions for doctors and technicians who want to learn the novel technique for scanning the neck and head.
One training program is being held this week at the University of Ferrara with technicians who developed the tests, and with Zamboni. A second session is planned for March.
Contact information for the course is available through: Claudio.Buffagni@esaote.com

Another small movement forward --- Zamboni is training technicians. I certainly hope there are a few from the US who make the trip.

Sharon

Sharon,

This is wonderful news for both research into CCSVI and additional studies regarding iron buildup in our brains. It is a possitive step forward indeed!

Lora

Meanwhile in Italy, one of the companies that manufactures the ultrasound machines used in the testing for CCSVI, is beginning to hold training sessions for doctors and technicians who want to learn the novel technique for scanning the neck and head.

Does anyone know which brand / company this is?

Well Cure, contact the guy who's email is above. This is as important news as getting the story out...without training what's the point of testing. YAY!!

I would suggest the same - contact Mr. Buffagni. Let us know if you get an answer to your question.

Sharon

thanks for this info, Sharon! Great find-
cheer

Joan -

I am glad you posted the info on Facebook - lots of "lookie lews" which include the IR folks are following the site.

I have forwarded on to a few contacts here in the Denver area.

Sharon

Sharon wrote:Joan -

I am glad you posted the info on Facebook - lots of "lookie lews" which include the IR folks are following the site.

I have forwarded on to a few contacts here in the Denver area.

Sharon

thanks, Sharon. Yeah, I decided to get a little more research oriented on FB. As administrator, I can see who is following the page, and realized we had some professional folks. Keep those tips coming
J

whyRwehere wrote:Well Cure, contact the guy who's email is above.

Sure, I could do the obvious ... so without flair

However, I went with the second obvious method, and it answered the question. The guys email address has an extension of "ESAOTE". A quick check in Google showed that this is a specific ultrasound brand name. http://www.esaote.com/modules/core/default.asp

My next step is to ring them and find out if they have sold a machine capable of doing the intra-cranial dopplers, to a local radiology lab, then seeing if I can hook them up with the training dept of the company that sold them the equipment. The above link gives access to their world wide network of dealers, so anyone else can try the same.

... later edit...
http://www.esaote.in/modules/core/page.asp?p=CONTACTS
Damn, they seem to not have a direct contact in Australia. Funnily enough, their headquarters is in Italy... who would-a guessed.... However, Europe and America are represented (The Netherlands has 3 and one in Belgium as well)

Still, I'll give it a go.

I contacted the person in charge of the training at Esaote and was told that this first round of training is for Italian medical professionals only. The one in March will be opened up to physicians outside of Italy.

I also inquired as to whether they have sold any of these machines (called the ESD system) in the USA and was told they have not and can't yet as they are currently waiting for the 510k approval from the FDA.

They said the only place in the USA that is trained and able to do the ESD scan right now is Buffalo. I guess the FDA does not need to approve the ESD's use if it is part of a study.

Here's hoping the FDA does not drag its lead feet.

Thanks SaintLouis for doing the follow-up. Interesting information.

Sharon

Maybe we should take them out to dinner and offer a "fact finding mission" trip to Italy.

Hi.

Can't they just record everything on a video?

I find the whole attitude of Zamboni's team quite frustrating. My radiologist has been trying to find somebody to ask a couple of technical questions about the whole procedure, but there is nobody willing to answer anything. Are they afraid of losing exclusivity or something?

sou

you can just imagine the number of people that I'm sure have been tryig to contact them. I'm sure they're just trying to take an organized aproach to getting the information out.

sou wrote:My radiologist has been trying to find somebody to ask a couple of technical questions about the whole procedure, but there is nobody willing to answer anything.

I found a neurologist specialised in ultrasound, with a radiologist. They both said that the test specified were "simple", "standard" tests; for them. This neurologist however, specialised in stroke victims. Maybe this would be an avenue your radiologist may like to investigate.

My GP also spoke with a friend who is a radiologist, and he said that these were standard exams, but were normally only performed within a hospital environment (ie in-patients).

I also spoke with a hospital radiologist, that spoke like she knew how to do the exams, but because I was awaiting a response from another radiologist, she decline, out of professional courtesy I think. She also gave me the name of the above neurologist specialising in stroke.