Thanks to a simulation training course in ultrasound guided procedures, many medical residents have been able to hone their skills in a learning environment that doesn’t affect patient safety. The Henry Ford Hospital conducted a study that found this to be a highly effective teaching tool that will undoubtedly improve confidence among residents when they start using these new skills on the job. While conducting an ultrasound test may look easy enough to the outsider, practitioners need practice to gain the knowledge needed to use ultrasound machines with dexterity and speed.

The study was conducted while would-be doctors performed some of the most common ultrasound procedures, including biopsies of the breast, liver and thyroid, as well as the draining of excess fluid from the body. Students were able to use mannequins instead of actual patients, which allows for a more standardized form of teaching. Because they can practice the same procedure again and again, students were able to become more proficient than they would otherwise have been if their procedures were done on humans.

Each radiology student participating in this study was given a chance to learn techniques when using ultrasound machines through a combination of live training, video and written coursework. They each had six months to learn the skills within a simulated medical environment that recreates live surgical procedures as well as emergency care, intensive care and routine medical scenarios.

The mannequins themselves were equipped with hypo-echoic and hyper-echoic nodules that allow for a real-life ultrasound experience. Both before and after their training, student doctors were tested on their proficiency and knowledge of ultrasound technology. Not surprisingly, the students showed significant improvements after learning in a simulated hospital environment.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Portable Ultrasound, portable ultrasound machines, Ultrasound Machines, ultrasound transducer

One of the hottest selling ultrasound machines on the market is the new SonoSite MicroMaxx, which lives up to its impressive name. By packing a lot of power into a compact, portable system, the SonoSite Micromaxx delivers the quality and features of a much larger, console-style ultrasound system in a small device that can be carried almost anywhere.

In addition to being highly portable, the MicroMaxx offers incredible image quality. And despite its small size, it produces images quickly. It can go from the off position to being ready to start scanning in about fifteen seconds, which can be extremely helpful with a critical-care patient. This state-of-the-art ultrasound system can be used in a number of different applications as well, including the ER, anesthesia, radiology and off-site locations.

In addition, medical professionals who tested this machine found it highly durable. Drop-testing has also shown that this machine to be rugged, even in extreme conditions, making it the ideal solution for rescue operations and natural disasters.

Available in color Doppler and 2-D modes, the SonoSite Micromaxx ultrasound machine allows for dual, M-Mode and Duplex imaging and works with three sweep speeds. Broadband, multi-frequency imaging allows for quick transmission to a medical facility, and images can be processed using compression, contrast enhancement, persistence and dynamic range/gain, using 1-8 focal zones.

While its portability makes it the ideal ultrasound equipment for a mobile rescue unit, it also moves quickly with a medical facility, from surgery and radiology to cardiology and anesthesia departments. Many healthcare facilities are opting for mobile systems like the Micromaxx, as it is sometimes easier to move the machine where it is needed than to move the patient to the machine.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Portable Ultrasound, portable ultrasound machines, Ultrasound Machines, ultrasound transducer

Color Flow Mode (CFM) is also called as Color Flow Doppler Imaging (CFD). These are the ultrasonic imaging techniques used for measuring the blood flow through the heart. They display the flow data on the 2-D echocardiography image. The technique is mainly used for determining the congenital, valvular and other forms of disease related to heart.

The color flow mode imaging is based on the Doppler Effect of the acoustics. The Doppler Effect helps to find out the blood flow from different parts of the body. It helps to identify the direction of the flow of blood. Color flow mode imaging is understandable to the common user. They avoid the displays of the complex spectral velocity structures.

In the color flow imaging different colors defines the direction of the given jet. The red color and blue colors are taken for defining the direction. The change in the hues from bright to dull depicts the change in the velocities. When there is turbulence in the blood flow a mosaic of colors is formed. Therefore a 2-D display of the blood flow is depicted by the identification of size, velocity and direction.

Red color is used to depict the flow towards the transducer and the blue color is used to depict the flow away from the transducer. Different color references can always be seen in different Doppler Imaging devices. Generally in color flow mode the color bar of black color represents zero flow.

Color flow mode is a very easy and understandable way to study the ultrasonic waves to calculate the blood flow. By making different colors as the codes to measure the flow of blood people can get easily the meaning of the reports generated. These techniques work in the normal hearing range of the humans thus are not harmful for humans.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: care medical, high intensity focused ultrasoud, Medical Equipment, medical imaging, medical supply, portable ultrasound machines, ultrasonic probe, Ultrasound, ultrasound machine, Ultrasound Machines, ultrasound probe, ultrasound technology, ultrasound transducer, Ultrasound Transducers, Used Medical Equipment

Mammography machines help analyze breast tissue for possible incidence of cancer and are the choicest tools for guiding breast biopsy procedures. It works by directing a low frequency X-ray through the breast tissue and rendering detailed images for the physician to analyze. The high clarity and definition of these images helps perceive even delicate tissues within the breast. The GE Senographe DMR Mammography Machine is a highly advanced state of the art piece of medical equipment from GE that delivers high performance at affordable costs. GE has been a pioneer in mammography machine manufacturing and over the years has set high industry standards which are rarely matched by competitors.

The machine is very user friendly and has 5 photocells for expansive imaging functionalities in breast placement and digital angulations display. It also provides hands free compression and offers more interaction with the patient by way of vertical height adjustment. The quality of images rendered by a mammography machine is of utmost importance. The high image quality increases the diagnostic capabilities of physicians and the GE Senographe DMR is ahead of the competition in that it delivers high quality images with superb clarity by using dedicated MaxiRay X-ray tube and SharpIQ grid. The MaxiRay bi-metal rhodium or molybdenum tube offers extensive penetration and comes with an inner focusing cone. The high X-ray spectrum provided by these metals penetrates even the densest of breast tissues and reveals details that are obscure in images rendered by other machines.

The unrivalled image quality and magnification provided by this tube sets the machine apart from its competitors. The machine reduces exposure time, which ensures image quality and cuts down dose by 40 percent which allows for examination of dense breasts without reduction in image quality. The anti scatter grid movement is also optimized by the SharpIQ and DMR features which provides high definition images. The machine as with most GE products is consistent and reliable and also ensures automatic optimization of parameters. The digital display, flipping markers and single magnification stand all add to overall design and renders it highly user friendly.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Fetal Monitors, high intensity focused ultrasoud, Medical Equipment, medical imaging, medical supply, obstetrics, portable ultrasound machines, pregnancy, ultrasonic probe, Ultrasound, ultrasound machine, Ultrasound Machines, ultrasound probe, ultrasound technology, ultrasound transducer, Ultrasound Transducers, Used Medical Equipment

Obstetrics is the special deal of care given to a lady and her child during her period of pregnancy, puerperium and child birth. In the obstetric exercise, the obstetric practitioners look after the pregnant woman on a regular basis to check the growth of the offspring. These obstetrics ensures that there is no ex-novo disease and no other preexisting diseases in the body of the pregnant woman which may possibly affect the baby in future.

Some of the risks which should be seen by an obstetric practitioner are pre-eclampsia, abnormal fetal presentation, abnormal placentation and intrauterine growth restriction. All such risk identification requires some special analysis of the woman on the regular basis. For example to check for pre-eclampsia, albuminuria i.e. the level of urine protein and blood pressure are checked at regular intervals.

In late pregnancies some of the fetal presentations get established like cephalic presentation which involves head first but the baby can be present buttocks first or feet first, transverse or at an oblique presentation. Some of the intrauterine growth restrictions observed by the obstetric practitioners is a general designation in which the offspring is smaller than the expected size, in this case such serious growth symptoms shows a behavior to drop off from the 50 percentile and coming above 10 percentile.

All the calculations are obtained when plotted on a fetal growth chart. Different causes can be extrinsic, relating to the problems apart from the fetus and different causes can be intrinsic, which means relating to the problems of the fetus. An obstetrician needs to check for all types of symptoms to save a child from any of the problems which may arise in future and for the pregnant lady to ensure the successful delivery. Thus for a complete growth of the child obstetrician has a big role to play.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Medical Equipment, obstetrics, portable ultrasound machines

Continuous Wave Doppler is a technique of measuring the blood flow and its velocity. It employs two piezoelectric crystals in the same ultrasound transducer; one is applied for sending the continuous signals from the transducer while the other is used for receiving the continuous signal echoes. Both the crystals are mounted at a fixed angle, slightly different for both. This ensures the security from overlapping of the transmitted signal and receiving signal.
As all the signals are continuously transmitted and echoes are received simultaneously therefore it becomes very difficult to differentiate among various signals. This is sometimes a disadvantage in the ultrasound technology. But the improvements are being made further to overcome this problem.
Continuous Wave Doppler is one of the older types of ultrasound technology and imaging technique. The main utility of the CW Doppler technique is its capability to measure accurately high blood velocities which makes it an important part of the core range of medical equipment in clinical facilities.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Medical Equipment, ultrasound technology, ultrasouns transducer

Echocardiogram, also known as ECHO, is an ultrasound of the heart to know its inner workings and to assess the condition of the heart.

It is mostly an initial examination to rule out abnormalities in the heart effectively. In the event of any suspicious activity the patient is further subject to detailed investigations.

Echocardiogram is similar to an ultrasonography, where a patient’s chest is smeared with transparent gel and an ultrasound transducer (sound sensitive device), is placed and moved very slowly over the heart. This instrument sends out high frequency sound waves and receives back an ‘echo’ of these waves as reflected by the heart. These echoes are recorded on a moving sheet of paper by the ultrasound machine, which is interpreted by cardiologists to check the proper functioning of the heart valves. This procedure is also known as Transthoracic echocardiogram, it is essential in initial diagnosis of conditions such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease etc.

With recent development in medical equipment, another procedure known as the Transoesophageal Echocardiogram is also used in detailed diagnosis of the condition of the heart. It is a procedure similar to endoscopy consisting of a miniature transducer at the end of a long flexible tube with controls on the other end to guide the probe in through the throat in order to capture clearer images for detailed analysis of the heart.

With this indispensable tool, the ability to obtain 3-dimensional images of the heart using a group of minute transducers probed into the heart cavity is invaluable. With appropriate computer programs, one can view cross sections of the heart as well as make a detailed study of the conditions of the heart and determine its treatment.

This procedure is simple and non-evasive; the patient’s throat will be sprayed with a local anaesthetic to avoid discomfort.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Medical Equipment, ultrasound machine, ultrasound transducer

In part 1 we looked at the technical specification that needs to be considered when purchasing an ultrasound machine. In part 2 we will be paying attention to qualities such as the mobility and financing of ultrasound machines.

A mobile or a static ultrasound machine

Just as it was mentioned in the technical specifications, before you decide if you want to make use of mobile or static ultrasound equipment, your choice would largely depend on various factors. Questions you need to ask yourself such as how much space you have at your disposal, what your primary function for the ultrasound device would be and how and where you would prefer to employ the ultrasound machine. Once these questions are answered, you should know if a portable ultrasound machine or a static installed device would suit your needs, purpose and practice best.

Portable ultrasound machines are the perfect solution for institutions where resources are limited, especially in remote areas or where it is required to move equipment between various separated venues to facilitate more than institution. However, this may be very comfortable, and can be seen as a cost saving method in third world countries where resources and funding are extremely limited, the down sides to portable ultrasound machines are that the versatility thereof is reasonably limited. With the majority of portable ultrasound machines it is restricted by allowing the user to connect only one ultrasound transducer at a time. In addition, with a rather small space for a keyboard, the use of a portable ultrasound device can become very challenging due to multiple functions that are assigned to most of the keys.

Financing

Paying brief attention to financing, like most expensive medical equipment, it is likely to find reasonable ways to aid in the financing of ultrasound machines such as normal credit term purchases, leasing and other options available.

New vs. Used

When purchasing an ultrasound machine for your organization, you may have the choice of buying/leasing new or pre-owned ultrasound equipment. Just like with most things such as automobiles you can typically save thousands of dollars looking for a pre-owned ultrasound with all of the specifications you need and is a couple of years old. It is best to look for a system that has been under continuous service contract or coverage. Having a system inspection and certification at the time of delivery ensures that the system is in good operational condition and ready for use.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Medical Equipment, portable ultrasound machines, ultrasound machine, Ultrasound Machines, ultrasound transducer

The Ultrasound Transducer is a highly sensitive and technical piece of medical equipment. As with any equipment which comes into contact with a patient, it requires special care and handling.

The most important thing to remember when caring for your transducer is that you must follow your manufacturer’s directions for care and cleaning. If you do not, you run the very real risk not only of irreparably damaging your transducer, but of also voiding your warranty. So step one is, alas, read the manual.

That said, there are some general guidelines for care and safety of ultrasound transducers in general.

1. Properly store transducers when not in use. Most machines have a designated storage place for transducers, such as a dedicated holder.
2. Avoid dropping the transducer, or subjecting it to any kind of impact.
3. Mind the cable. The cable is, in essence, an electrical cord. Unnecessary bending or folding of the cable can damage the cable insulation, which may lead to electrical shock.
4. Always inspect the transducer apparatus, including lens and cable, before each use. If the transducer is damaged, it can cause injury to the patient or operator. If you notice a problem with a transducer, do not use it and contact the manufacturer for service and/or replacement.
5. Use only approved coupling gels to avoid damage to the medical equipment and discomfort for the patient.

Now that you know how to care for your transducer, how about cleaning?

1. Step one is read the manual and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The importance of this step cannot be overstated.
2. Use the manufacturer’s specified cleaning products and germicides. To do otherwise can damage your equipment and void your warranty.
3. Do not allow the connector end of the cable or transducer to become immersed in the cleaning product.
4. If your transducer must be soaked in germicide, follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to length of soaking time.
5. Steam cleaning, using a heat autoclave or gas process, is generally not recommended.

As long as you follow the proper procedures for transducer care, use and cleaning, your equipment will serve you well, allowing you to better serve your patients.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Medical Equipment, ultrasound transducer, Ultrasound Transducers