Reviews and News on Ultrasound Machines

Ultrasound technology has advanced dramatically since it was first introduced. Now, sonographers and radiologists can view more than just a static image on a piece of film. Thanks to new 4-D volumetric scanning, they can now see organs, fetal movements and blood flow in real time on a flat screen monitor.

These advancements in ultrasound equipment have allowed cardiologists to view the flow of blood and spot a blockage before it becomes a heart attack. Ultrasound probes can also be used after delicate organ transplant surgeries for follow-up care, instead of using more invasive techniques. And as advancements continue in ultrasound technology, it is now used frequently to diagnose problems with specific organs. Sonographers can take a multiple-clip dynamic image that can later be examined by a radiologist to view cross-sections of a 3-D image.

The major differences between the ultrasound equipment of the 80’s and 90’s, and what we are seeing today, is due to the addition of color Doppler and digital imaging. This technology offers doctors the ability to view movement and transitions that occur within an organ, artery or fetus.

Even the size and scope of hospital ultrasound equipment has changed over the past twenty years. Today’s machines can be moved from one part of a hospital to another, and offer far more sophisticated imaging techniques than the ultrasound machines of the past.

An even smaller, mobile unit will soon be available, thanks to a new “analog front-end” chip. Expect to see a full range of handheld ultrasound devices that can be used in mobile lifesaving units or on-site at disaster areas. As the demand for this equipment grows, and compact probes are adapted for diagnostic and post-operative treatment, physicians expect them to be used in even more medical and surgical applications.

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.

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.

In the world of medical equipment Color Flow Mode (CFM) is also called 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 in the ultrasound machine 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 of ultrasound machines. 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 ultrasound technology which enables us to study ultrasonic waves as a means of calculating 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.

Fetal monitors are used at hospital and medical facilities to monitor fetuses and are also available for domestic or home use. There is a bunch of such products available in the market and one needs to have a good understanding of the common features and specifications commonly available on different models in order to separate the good ones from the bad and to choose the right one, which offers extra features.

The Corometrics 145 fetal monitor from GE was exclusively designed for hospital use and is quite expensive for domestic or home use. It uses ultrasound technology such as continuous external wave Doppler with autocorrelation processing and ultrasonic signals to accurately analyze the health of the fetus based on measured parameters such as heart rate and contractions of the heart as well as uterine activity of a developing baby. The data gathered through such external interference rather than using probes or intrusive devices, can be either printed out or displayed on a digital screen for analysis.

The reason why most fetal monitors are not prescribed for home use is because they are cumbersome to use and requires an understanding of the readings that they generate. They are also quite expensive to procure and are hence most suited to hospitals and clinics.

The operations on the Corometrics 145 ultrasound machine are all exclusively performed using buttons that are easy to use and user friendly. It is often more economical to buy this device online from a medical equipment supplier than to go for a retail purchase. It comes with TOCO and US transduction and provides highly accurate readings and ultrasound FHR tracings.

The printing resolution provided by thermal linear array makes the readings easy to analyze and record. They also offer consistent uterine activity recordings and everything is done using push buttons, which makes the whole process rather simple, and user friendly.

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 technology has allowed medical practitioners the advantage to examine inner organs of patients without any surgical intrusion into their bodies. Ultrasound machines are most commonly used for examining pregnant women, in order to safely ensure that the pregnancy is proceeding normally and without any complications.

When one really looks at the options that are available when it comes to procuring a good ultrasound machine for your medical facility, the choices narrow down to two manufacturers, GE and Philips. Though these are not the only ultrasound machine manufacturers with the technical advancements necessary to accurately and consistently visualize and determine organ volume measurements, they are the most prolific at least in churning out such equipments.

The Philips IU22 Ultrasound Machine is used for general imaging and has wide clinical application capabilities. It has a multitude of applications in different spheres of anatomical classifications including Cerebrovascular, gynecological and musculoskeletal imaging.

In terms of simplicity, user friendliness, performance and efficiency, the Philips IU22 touches new heights. It has advanced quantification features and the image quality is excellent. It allows for volume imaging and the workstation view ability is similar to that of CT and MR.

Because it renders a 3D view of the image, the more obscure details that are lost in a 2D image are perceivable and hence more critical information can be gathered from each image. The new VL13-5 volume linear array transducer on the iU22 system aids in reviewing volume imaging data for superficial applications in areas such as breast, thyroid, musculoskeletal and vascular.

Studies have shown a marked reduction in examination times due to the use of this medical equipment machine. The percentage of failed ultrasound exams are also substantially less with the use of the Philips IU22. The use of technology such as the pure wave transducer, advanced XRES and tissue aberration correction help to characterize organ features and helps improve treatment planning for breast tumors and such.

According to a new study from the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, the combination of sonohysterography with transvaginal ultrasound improves clinicians’ ability to diagnose adenomyosis. Adenomyosis is a common and benign condition of the uterus. It can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and pelvic pain. American Journal of Roentgenology, the monthly journal of the American Roentgen Ray Society (AARS), is publishing study results in its April issue.

Sonohysterography, or SHG, is a technique which involves infusing a fluid, typically sterile saline, through the cervix into the uterus by way of a soft plastic catheter. The uterine cavity is distended by the infusion. The uterine lining is then easier to visualize, allowing for greater diagnostic specificity of uterine and endometrial pathology. The transvaginal ultrasound probe is inserted as usual.

The lead author of the study was Sachit Verma, M.D. The study included 26 women. According to Dr. Verma, “This study describes the presence of ill-defined areas of fluid intravasation extending from the uterine cavity into the myometrium known as fluid containing tracks or so called ‘myometrial cracks’ on SHG. Myometrial cracks have not been described previously as a sign of adenomyosis. The tracks, seen in 26% of our cases, become conspicuous as saline seeps through the ‘myometrial cracks’. They are difficult to characterize on standard transvaginal ultrasound.”

Transvaginal ultrasound machines alone has been the first diagnostic tool used in cases where adenomyosis is suspected. When it fails to provide a diagnosis, an MRI is usually the next step. As Dr. Verma points out, MRIs are expensive and there may be a wait to get the patient scheduled. The combination of sonohysterography together with transvaginal ultrasound appears to provide as much diagnostic specificity as an MRI without the associated costs and delay. In the instant study, 23 women had findings suggestive of adenomyosis when SHG was used. Adenomyosis was confirmed in 22 of the 23 women using an MRI.

Dr. Verma said, “Knowledge of ‘myometrial cracks’ will decrease the errors in interpretation and improve patient care so that specific treatment can be instituted. This additional information for the referring physician can possibly decrease the number of endometrial biopsies – reducing costs in patient management – in cases where SHG shows no uterine abnormality and adenomyosis is the sole cause of abnormal bleeding.” This study provides further proof of the continued utility of ultrasound machine technology.

Imaging is not the only medical application for ultrasound. There is a new application that is growing in importance the medical science. Imaging ultrasounds are fairly high intensity, but the changes in that intensity are stable over time.

But if you take the same ultrasound waves, lower the overall intensity, while rapidly changing the intensity from one setting to another over time, you get an entirely different effect. These waves are called High Intensity Focused Ultrasound or HIFU. This heats and destroys pathogenic tissue rapidly. It is a very precise technique. Its precision is due to the ability of the sound waves to be focused to small widths and diameters. It can be directed by several means, but the overall modality remains the same.

Sound waves carry energy. As a sound wave passes through tissue, it generates heat. In a diagnostic ultrasound, this heat is not the goal and great pains are taken to minimize it. In HIFU, the rapid changes between frequencies make much more heat, not unlike the heat generated when you bend a piece of wire back and forth to break it. Once hot enough, the tissue becomes thermally coagulated, rendering it inactive.

It is interesting to note that if this heating is pushed too far, bubbles will be produced. This is called cavitation. These bubbles will grow larger and ultimately implode. This would increase the cell death, but it is an unpredictable process and is not desirable. There is some investigation to see if this can be harnessed, especially with the need to destroy relatively large masses of tissue, but that lies in the future.

The temperatures within the targeted tissue can rise to between sixty-five and eighty-five degrees centigrade, destroying the tissue. This can easily be combined with other treatment modalities for better long term outcomes. Overall, this treatment is valuable because it is noninvasive, generally painless, and highly controlled. It is a valuable new tool in the medical arsenal.