Buying an Ultrasound Machine - Advice and Offers

Sonography is an imaging procedure in which ultrasound waves are used to examine organic tissue. Sonography is very popular, not only because of its low cost, but also because the use of ultrasound is quite risk-free with the right dosage.

This is primarily due to the fact that the sound waves emitted by the ultrasound device are of relatively low energy. Therefore, in contrast to X-Ray, the patients are not exposed to any radiation, and during the ultrasound examination they only feel a slight warming of the examined body part. 3D sonography uses 2D images and generates parallel layer images and assembles them.

With 4D ultrasound, the 3D image blocks are processed very quickly one after the other, so that three or more images per second can be displayed. For example, the child's movements, heartbeat and blood flow can be displayed in real time. In principle, ultrasound examinations are carried out in the preventive examinations of pregnant women, neurology, neurosurgery and the examination of the heart or abdomen.

Ultrasound diagnostics is extremely popular in medicine. In addition, sonography offers doctors a number of advantages. For example, the acquisition and maintenance costs of an ultrasound device are generally much lower than other large medical devices and start at around 10,000 euros net.

Modern ultrasound devices can also generate images in real time other than static and moving images. This offers many advantages, for example in the context of a prenatal check-up. Ultrasound devices can be used flexibly, because almost every organ of the human body can be examined by sonography thanks to a large number of probe types. Ultrasound devices are increasingly being used in general medicine, internal medicine, gynaecology, obstetrics and veterinary medicine.

The price of an ultrasound diagnostic machine depends primarily on the size and the desired functions. As a rule, ultrasound machines with a real-time 4D display are more expensive than devices without such a function.

Therefore, before purchasing, you should carefully consider how the system will be used in daily practice and which ultrasound probe is needed. A mobile, basic model, which displays the images in black and white, is already available from approx. 3,000 Euros net, whereas state-of-the-art ultrasound machines with 3D and 4D display are often available in a price range of approx. 15,000 to 100,000 Euros net.

However, it is also possible to buy used ultrasound machines and save some money . Only if the user knows how to optimally adjust the ultrasound device and is familiar with the various options can he make a reliable diagnosis. A thorough briefing and regular further training is therefore a prerequisite for the purchase and use of an ultrasound device.

The medical equipment market is home to a large number of manufacturers of a wide variety of ultrasound machines. Some manufacturers have focused on individual medical specialties, while others have a broader product range and try to cover the whole ultrasound diagnostics. Here you can learn more about the individual manufacturers and their products.

According to current surveys, GE, Philips and Siemens are among the most popular manufacturers of ultrasound equipment. Some buyers also choose companies such as Toshiba, Esaote or Mindray. Many buyers, however, state that they have no preference for manufacturers when purchasing an ultrasound machine.

For instance, a simple Doppler device with a convex probe and possibly a linear probe for a more detailed imaging of superficial structures are often sufficient for a dermatologist. On the other hand, gynecological, urological or cardiological examinations require more specific functions and special probes.

Wear and tear and technical aging can reduce the performance and image quality of any ultrasound machine. In addition, there are recommendations for testing the quality of the image reproduction devices. With the further development of technology, new possibilities are also emerging for technical quality testing.

Test records must be kept for regular maintenance. These must be kept for the duration of the use of an ultrasonic system. Here you will find an example of a test report:

For the patients, all scanning methods follow the same pattern: depending on the body part examined, the application can be carried out standing, sitting or lying down. As a rule, the examinations are completely painless. Only ultrasound examinations, in which the probe must be inserted into the body, can cause slight discomfort.

It is precisely because the proper use of ultrasound is classified as harmless and completely painless for the patient that ultrasound examinations are most frequently used in the preventive examinations of pregnant women as part of prenatal diagnostics. According to current studies, the sensitive tissue of the unborn child cannot be damaged by the low dose of ultrasound.

In addition, the patients feel nothing during the application except a slight warming of the examined body part. Nevertheless, the ultrasound therapy should not be carried out negligently either, as an overdose can lead to overheating and possibly to bleeding of the tissue or burns on the periosteum.