The medical equipment industry has experienced significant growth, particularly in third-world countries. There are entire companies dedicated to buying equipment for hospitals and clinics all over the globe. Sometimes an investor will open a new medical facility and will hire one of these agents to procure a whole slew of equipment. The agent will often need to buy new ultrasound machines like the Philips HD 11, or something similar.
These systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars, with prices sometimes exceeding $100,000. As such, it behooves the potential buyer to study all options and information available, before making such a significant purchase.
So before starting out on an ultrasound shopping spree, let's look at the basics of what these machines do, how they do it, as well as points to consider when buying one.
1. What Ultrasound Machines Do
The main purpose of these machines is to perform diagnostic imaging of internal body structures.
For example, if a doctor wants to check on how someone's heart is functioning, an echocardiogram or cardiac ultrasound picture must be taken. This will allow a physician using a Philips HD 11 XE ultrasound to examine the heart (without any surgical procedure) and determine whether there are any cardiovascular diseases.
Other ultrasound usages include the examination of pregnant women to determine the date of conception (gestation) as well as the gender and health of the fetus. This is generally referred to as obstetric ultrasonography. Outside of pregnancy, gynecological ultrasonography is done to examine the health of the uterus, ovaries and other pelvic areas. Together, these two areas are sometimes referred to as OB/GYN ultrasound studies and can be handled, for example, by a GE Voluson 730 Pro.
Another major area of use is in urology. Upon need, doctors will want to examine males to rule out testicular torsion or cancer which can be confused with relatively harmless epididymitis and hydrocele respectively.
As different ultrasound systems perform different diagnostic imaging, buyers must first determine whether there is a need for cardiovascular, OB/GYN or other studies, before selecting the appropriate machine.
2. How Ultrasound Machines Work
One might think that knowing how these machines work is not so relevant when buying one. However, a basic understanding of how ultrasound systems operate is important when determining which machine or accompanying transducer one really needs.
In short, transducers or probes are connected to the ultrasound machine. These probes vibrate at high frequencies producing sound waves ranging from 2-18 MHz. The range will depend on the depth of the organ that is being examined.
The doctor or technician places the transducer outside the body (non-invasive) and moves it around the examination area ( for example, abdomen for OB/GYN and chest for cardiovascular).
Invasive exams require insertion of the transducer either in the esophagus, rectum or vagina.
The sound waves then bounce off the various internal organs and fluids, and are transmitted (via the transducer) back to the ultrasound machine for interpretation and visualization. The doctor can then see on the monitor what is going on internally.
In terms of the transducers themselves, there are many types, including convex, linear, phased array, invasive and more. Some are more appropriate for abdominal exams, while others are better for cardiovascular studies.
3. Considerations When Buying an Ultrasound Machine
Of course, the first point to consider is budget. If one can afford to buy one or more brand-new Philips HD 11 ultrasound, then there is little point in looking at reconditioned options. However, if cash is somewhat limited, there are many excellent, used ultrasounds for affordable prices.
When dealing with second-hand equipment, buyers should make sure they are getting at a minimum, a 3 month warranty. They should also request as much detail about the machine as possible. Info like the date of manufacture, software version, transducer compatibility, as well as some pictures of the machine, should all be obtained before buying.
An additional consideration is location. Buyers from outside the USA or Europe might need to deal with longer delivery times. If sea freight is being used, care should be taken to prevent damage resulting from moisture and/or rough handling.
Start checking out your ultrasound options, and consider the Philips HD 11, today!!
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