THE MOST POPULAR ULTRASOUND MACHINES PERFORMANCE COMPARISON
The search for high-quality examination methods is one of the most important issues in the modern healthcare industry. Modern diagnostic equipment has to provide crisp visualization while being minimally invasive, and affordable. Ultrasound diagnostics has been one of the most cost-effective and high-quality imaging techniques for many years. Due to a small working cost and no radiation exposure, ultrasound diagnostics is popular in almost all clinical uses. Thus, ultrasound machines are widely utilized in gynecology, surgery, internal medicine and other fields of medicine thanks to 3D/4D imaging capabilities, mobility, wireless transducers, contrast agents and other technologies.
Over the years of the existence of ultrasound machines, employees of various medical fields have managed to single out their favorite devices. In this article, we will analyze three of them: GE Voluson E8, Toshiba Aplio XG, Siemens S2000.
The General Electric Company has been one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality medical equipment for many years offering various ultrasound and MRI machines and CT scanners. Voluson E8 has become one of the most popular models, due to excellent image quality and versatile applicability of clinical examinations. However, it is most widely used in obstetric-gynecologic care.
Through the variety of scanning modes, such as B-, M-modes, ND-flow, 3D-, 4D-modes and the possibility of Pulse-Wave Doppler mode for blood flow imaging in B-flow mode, this system enables faster and more accurate detection of early stage fetal abnormalities. HDlive – the technology, which radically changed the perception of 4D fetal reconstruction, making it really photorealistic and informative – is the jewel in the crown of this model.
As of today, other manufacturers have not been able to provide a similar effect. The machine operated by the RealTime4D software, which allows you to conduct examinations in real-time and includes Tomographic Ultrasound Imaging mode (TUI) and Volume Contrast Imaging software (VCI) which in combination with an adaptive Speckle Reduction Imaging algorithm (V-SRI) lets you conduct volume contrast imaging. Voluson E8 is technically well equipped. It provides the possibility to connect up to 4 transducers simultaneously and ensures up to 36 cm ultrasound beam penetration. And these are by no means all the advantages of this machine. It may be said without exaggeration that Voluson E8 has become the ultrasound diagnostics gold standard in obstetrics and gynecology. The average price of a pre-owned system is $25,000-$40,000.
Now let us have a look at the Toshiba Aplio XG ultrasound machine, which has proven to be the best choice for a wide range of examinations, particularly liver and breast.
During the trial period, the company paid much attention to clinical examinations concerning internal diseases, oncology, mammalogy, orthopedics, and traumatology. In order to improve basic B-mode overall quality and efficiency, Toshiba has created ApliPure and Precision View technologies which provide high resolution and unprecedented clear and flawless ultrasound images, allowing us to see more clinical details than ever before. The device is also equipped with the following new powerful imaging technologies: Pulse Subtraction, Advanced Dynamic Flow – displaying blood flow with high spatial resolution without using any contrast agents, three-dimensional reconstruction (Fusion 3D), and Contrast Harmonic Imaging – rich in a wide range of imaging modes. MicroPure, a unique breast microcalcification imaging technology, is also available.
Aplio XG provides the possibility of conducting strain elastography. Because of its versatility and thanks to the variety of capabilities, this machine has become popular among various healthcare fields showing excellent results in each of them. The average price of a pre-owned system is $20,000.
To conclude, we will take a look at the Siemens Acuson S2000 ultrasound machine, created using years of experience in the field of ultrasound studies. This is the first of a new generation of machines which utilizes eSie Touch and Virtual Touch technology, based on strain elastography and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) shear wave elastography.
Siemens S2000 provides the advantage of conducting examinations of absolutely all types both in adults and children. The system has no weak points. Therefore, it is in wide demand for obstetric-gynecologic examinations (virtual light source technology and photorealistic 4D reconstruction with Amnioscopic Rendering), abdominal examinations (shear wave elastography of liver stiffness in diffuse liver disease differential diagnosis), cardiological examinations (segmental assessment of myocardial contractility by speckle tracking imaging), vascular examinations (automatic measurement of intima-media complex thickness), superficial organs and intracavitary examinations (elastography). The new transducer technology provides extremely crisp images in 2D, 3D, 4D and Doppler examinations. New imaging technologies such as 3D Dynamic TCE – adaptive tissue contrast enhancement technology and Advanced SieClear – an advanced real-time spatial compound imaging technique both meet all the requirements to conduct even the most complex examinations. It may safely be said that the Siemens Acuson S2000 ultrasound machine is one of the best devices in its price class. The average pre-owned price is $15,000-$20,000.
From year to year, ultrasound machine manufacturers offer us dozens of their new models with improved technical capabilities. Nowadays, any specialist is able to choose the ultrasound machine that is perfect for their examination purposes due to the introduction of sophisticated image processing algorithms, advanced software, and compact but even more powerful equipment. However, the devices which have gained the confidence of the best professionals in the world, will stay in demand for many years to come.
04.02.2017