What Kind of Machine Should I Buy 3

Next, look for a machine that is user friendly. How can you tell if it will be easier to use? Look at the keyboard. Are the buttons, knobs, or toggles clearly labeled as to the function they control? With some machines, each button, knob, or toggle may have multiple functions. Ask to see the owner’s manual. If there is one booklet, the machine is probably user friendly. If there are 3 or 5 separate booklets, it is a very complicated machine. In my opinion, the complicated, “big box” ultrasound machine is capable of making multiple adjustments to give the absolute best quality image, but the operator must know and use all of the available button, knobs, and toggles to get that image. This type of machine may cost $80,000 to $350,000 or more and is a necessity for a radiologist or cardiologist. It is perfectly acceptable if this is the kind of machine you want. In my opinion, this is more ultrasound machine than a general practitioner needs. In my opinion, a general practitioner needs a machine that is user friendly and can be quickly learned and put to use in the practice. In my experience, when machines or procedures are difficult or tedious, most people will not use the machine or do the procedures. Take the time (2-3 days) to study the owner’s manual and learn how to use the machine you buy.

Fourth, what kind of training is available to you? An ultrasound machine is worthless if you do not know how to use it. Some ultrasound sales companies include training in the cost of the machine. It is not free. You are paying for it whether you use it or not. You will probably have to pay for your own travel and lodging to get to the training. You may consider separating the cost of training from the cast of the machine, especially if you are financing the cost of the machine. Some ultrasound companies offer training for a fee.

What Ultrasound Machine Should I Buy Part 2

After you have determined what your practice needs are, as you research ultrasound machines available, ask if the machine is capable of supporting the procedures you want and how many transducers you will need to do those procedures.  If you start with abdomens but eventually want to do hearts as well, does the machine have cardiac capability or can it be upgraded to cardiac functions when you are ready?  Sometimes you just need to buy a cardiac transducer when you are ready.  Sometimes you have to buy a new machine that can do hearts and abdomens.  Think about your future needs.  For shallow depths (like cat or exotic abdomens, equine tendons or repro) you need higher frequency transducers.  For deeper depths (like large dog or equine abdomens) you need lower frequency transducers.  For most procedures in the small animal abdomen, you want a micro-convex transducer.  For shallow structures (pancreas, intestines) a linear transducer could be helpful.  For cat hearts you need a higher frequency cardiac transducer.  For some large dogs and horses, you need a lower frequency cardiac transducer.  Colorflow Doppler is very useful in the abdomen, but it will increase the cost of the machine.  For cardiac studies, Colorflow and Spectral Doppler (both Pulsed Wave and Continuous Wave) are necessities and will increase your total cost.  I caution you not to buy a machine because it is cheap, but because it will do what you need.    For diagnostic purposes in any heart, you MUST HAVE COLORFLOW DOPPLER, PULSED WAVE DOPPLER, AND CONTINUOUS WAVE DOPPLER.  Will the machine allow you to easily download patient information and images?  Can it do video clips?  Can the hardware and software be upgraded?  How long is the warranty?  If it is an older model, how much longer will the manufacturer support repairs?    

Phantom

Someone just asked how to make a practice phantom since commercially available phantoms are rather expensive and have limited usage life.  When training, I use a jello mold filled with objects (mostly dried fruit) for developing scanning and fine needle biopsy skills.  It is a homemade phantom that is inexpensive and effective.

My Recipe: 

2 Large Packages Black Cherry Jello (the darkest color available to disguise the objects you add) + 2 packets of plain Knox gelatin (for firmness)
Disolve Jello and gelatin in 3 cups of hot water (not boiling)
Pour mixture into a 1 quart ziploc freezer bag.  Add 12 prunes.  Eliminate as much air as possible as you seal the bag.  Lay the bag flat in the refrigerator and allow the gelatin to set.  It will become quite firm.  Remove from the refrigerator, use ultrasound gel, and practice.

Sometimes I add small balloons filled with milk or water for cystocentesis practice.

Many people figured out how to use Jello to make phantoms.  I adapted my recipe from Knox Blox.  How many of you are old enough to remember those?  I think, more recently, they're called Jigglers.

What Kind of Machine Do I Buy?

What kind of ultrasound machine should I buy?

Many people visit our booth at veterinary convention exhibit halls to ask this question.  It is a very good question but will take some time to give a good answer.  I will divide this into four topics:

1.       List the ultrasound procedures you want to do

2.       Search for a machine that will support the applications you want to do

3.       Look for a machine that is user friendly

4.       Ask what kind of training is available 

Assess your wants and needs:   you need to decide what kind of ultrasound procedures you want to be able to perform BEFORE you start researching equipment.  If your practice is limited to small animals, do you want to limit yourself to abdominal ultrasound only, or would you like to expand to cardiac ultrasound some day?  Are you interested in exotic animals or reproduction studies?  If you are limited to large animal practice, do you want to do tendons, reproduction, cardiac, and abdominal studies?  If you are in a mixed animal practice, do you want to do everything?  Make a list of the types of procedures you want to be able to perform.  If you have multiple doctors in your practice, enlist them in the decision making process. 

 WHY?  The cost of your unit will depend upon the requirements you place on it. Your basic unit is hardware consisting of a computer processor (also known as the platform) attached to transducers (which gather the information that feeds the processor and a screen (which displays the images generated by the processor).  Most new ultrasound units display very good to excellent images.  Transducers, though versatile, tend to be task specific so it is important to know what tasks you want to perform.   The platforms depend upon software written to accomplish specific tasks:  creating an image, measurement and labeling packages, filing, retrieving data etc.  If your facility is computerized, you may also want to ask if the units you are considering are easily compatible with your current image storage system.

So, when looking for an ultrasound unit, it is very important for you to have a list of the types of procedures you want to perform, the types of patients you serve in your practice, and the kind of record storage you use in your clinic or hospital.