Contrast Booster improves the image quality and diagnostic value of pulmonary CTs

In February 2025, ulrich medical is bringing a world first to the market: the Red Dot Design Award-winning Contrast Booster breathing control device. With this device, the Ulm-based medical technology manufacturer helps patients do the Müller maneuver, a special breathing technique for pulmonary CTs. An independent study* shows that during pulmonary embolism CTs (PECTs), it increases the contrast media density in the target vessels and reduces incorrect contrasting, thus elevating the diagnostic value of the imaging. In addition, the constant, reproducible breathing position ensures consistent and comparable CT imaging quality for follow-up scans.

The Müller maneuver, also referred to as “suction against resistance”, is used as a breathing technique in radiological diagnostics to better visualize pathological changes in the airway and lung tissue, for example in cases of suspected pulmonary embolism. However, incorrect contrasting frequently occurs during PECTs due to transient interruption of contrast (TIC). The flow of uncontrasted blood from the lower half of the body (inferior vena cava) means that the CT scan cannot be used to rule out pulmonary embolism. “A factor that can positively influence imaging but has so far been underestimated in this context is the Müller maneuver. This is exactly where the Contrast Booster comes in: we support the patient and make it easier for them to do the suction maneuver in a consistent and reproducible manner”, explains Sven Erdmann, Head of Technology and Regulation of the ulrich medical Executive Board. How well it works can be seen from the results of a prospective, single-center clinical study on 150 patients. A comparison of PECTs with and without the Contrast Booster found that incorrect contrasting was reduced from 12.3% to zero with the breathing control device. Increased contrast media density in the target vessels lowered the risk of unusable investigations as well as false-positive and false-negative findings: the rate of complete diagnostic images was 89.6%.

Easy handling, proven clinical benefit
The Contrast Booster comprises a charging cradle and a patient unit with a disposable mouthpiece, which is so light the patient can easily hold it in their mouth without using their hands. The device does not require training or any subsequent servicing. Mirrored LED displays on the charging cradle and patient unit show both the patient and the MTRs responsible for the investigation, at the same time, whether the Müller maneuver suction is intense enough or needs to be adjusted. After being used, the patient unit is disinfected and the disposable mouthpiece is replaced. Thanks to its short charging time, the Contrast Booster is ready for use again very quickly. “It was important to us that the Contrast Booster is extremely user-friendly – and the Red Dot Design Award confirms how successful we were”, says Sven Erdmann and he adds “We are also proud of the results from the independent study, which prove its clinical benefit.” The Contrast Booster can, in principle, also be used for contrast-enhanced CTs of the pulmonary vessels and CTs of the coronary vessels and the thoracic aorta.

ulrich medical will exhibit its radiology portfolio, including the Contrast Booster, at the ECR (European Congress of Radiology) in Vienna. The team will be available for questions and discussion from February 26 until March 2, 2025 in hall X2, stand 220.

Further information can be found at https://www.ulrichmedical.com/en

*von Münchhausen, N., Janssen, S., Overhoff, D. et al. Influence of device-assisted suction against resistance (Mueller maneuver) on image quality in CTPA for suspected lung embolism. Eur Radiol (2023). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00330-023-09834-3 
In this study, PECTs are referred to as CT pulmonary angiograms (CTPA)