Ultrasound machines make it possible to obtain images of the interior of the human body completely painlessly by the diffusion of ultrasound. When they are portable, they allow all human or animal health professionals, whatever its field of application and its use: radiology, general medicine, gynecology etc., to use this technology where and when they are needed. wish.

An ultrasound machine is a device that uses ultrasonic waves, which are high frequency sound waves that cannot be heard by the human ear, in order to take measurements or acquire images of soft tissue. or blood flow.

The ultrasound machine is equipped with a probe, itself made up of a matrix of piezoelectric elements which, when placed in contact with the skin, emits short pulses of ultrasound in the body and, in a fraction of a second , receives in return multiple echoes from the part of the body examined.

The waves propagate and are reflected on the different tissues and liquids, more or less depending on the organs. The treatment of these makes it possible to measure a structure or to form detailed images of the internal organs and tissues, visible on the screen, with a view to a diagnosis. The application of a gel amplifies the transmission of ultrasound and improves the quality of the images thus obtained.

When portable, ultrasound scanners, compact and lightweight, allow easy portable use for all healthcare professionals to use this technology wherever and whenever they want.

The use of a portable ultrasound system is equally suitable for examining adults, pregnant women or even pediatric patients.

This can be used to take images or measurements on different thoracic, abdominal or pelvic organs, but also on the fetus, muscles and tendons or different blood vessels. The use of endocavitary probes also allows the exploration of tissues impossible to reach with standard probes. Finally, the portable ultrasound machine can be used to act as guides for different types of biopsy.

Portable ultrasound scanners can thus be used by many medical specialties:

• medical emergency and intensive care;
• cardiology;
• obstetric gynecology ;
• gastroenterology;
• radiology;
• pneumology;
• rheumatology;
• rehabilitation and sports medicine;
• urology;
• pediatrics;
• general medicine ;
• veterinary care;
• etc.

On the other hand, due to the waves used, ultrasound cannot fully study certain organs that contain a lot of air, such as the lungs or intestines, or certain organs encapsulated in very dense structures, such as the brain.

HOW TO USE

• Take the main unit and accessories;
• connect the cable holder and the battery to the main unit;
• connect the probes to the main unit;
• plug in the printer;
• load it with paper;
• connect the power cable or use the battery as a power source;
• press the power switch;
• press the on / off key;
• use the main unit as soon as the main interface is displayed;
• apply an adequate amount of ultrasonic gel to the area of ​​the body to be examined;
• press firmly on it with the acoustic window of the probe;
• a sectional image of the tissue is then displayed on the screen;
• adjust brightness, gain, TGC (Time Gain Compensation), focus combination, etc. ;
• meanwhile, move the probe as necessary to obtain an optimal image of the target area;
• to turn off the system, press the on / off key.

Role of ultrasonic gel

To obtain detailed images during an ultrasound, the ultrasound used must be very acute, that is to say at very high frequencies and between 3 and 20 MHz. However, at such frequencies, ultrasound is no longer transmitted through the air. It is therefore necessary to install a device capable of expelling the air between the probe and the patient’s skin. The placement of an ultrasonic gel allows the ultrasound to be transmitted without modifying it. Pure water could be used in the same way, but the gel is more practical because it does not run, does not wet, serves as a lubricant and blocks the rough edges between the probe and the skin.

The choice of the portable ultrasound system is made according to its technical and functional characteristics and the needs of the healthcare professional in terms of mobility.

Size, weight and battery life of the ultrasound system

• While portable ultrasound scanners weigh around 5-6 kg on average and have a handle for easy transport, various so-called portable models (which are held in the hand) are barely 500 grams and can be easily stored in a pocket or bag. Some can be wireless and connected to a smartphone. They are therefore very useful for emergency medicine and bedside medicine;
• screen size is a consideration, as is image quality. The dimensions of the screens vary from 10 to 12 inches. They can be miniaturized on ultra-portable ultrasound scanners. In addition, some portable ultrasound systems are capable of displaying up to 250 shades of gray while others are equipped with color screens. The brightness also matters, especially if you need to use your ultrasound machine outdoors without the viewing being neglected, for veterinary medicine for example. This must be able to be adjusted without compromising the readability of the results observed;
• battery life is also a parameter to consider. An autonomy of several hours is to be preferred for a device of this type;
• most brands offer rolling carts on which the ultrasound system can be set up and moved around as the user needs without being cluttered.

Choice of probes

The probes must be chosen according to the user’s activity and the exploration to be carried out:

• convex probes simplify examination of deep organs and are preferred for gynecological examinations. These allow a wider emission of low frequency ultrasound;
• linear probes allow, for their part, the use of high frequency ultrasound allowing better quality images on a surface area;
• endocavity probes are used to identify pathologies directly linked to the prostate or the uterus.

Imaging modes

It is necessary to consider the main existing imaging modes:

• mode A: this is the simplest type of ultrasound. No image is displayed on the screen. This mode is used to measure distances;
• B mode (or 2D mode): a linear array of transducers simultaneously scans a plane across the body which can be seen as a 2D image on the screen. This is the most commonly used mode in various disciplines;
• M mode: a rapid scanning sequence whose images follow one another on the screen allows the user to see and measure the amplitude of the movements, the limits of the organs which produce the reflections moving in relation to the probe. This mode is used to examine moving structures;
• color Doppler: allows you to visualize and analyze blood flow in the arteries and veins, vascularization, or even the direction of flow if the Doppler is in color. This mode is used in particular in cardiology in order to analyze the state of the heart valves or the vascularization of certain tissues;
• the elastography mode: makes it possible to measure the hardness of the tissues and to diagnose, for example, possible hepatic fibrosis;
• 3D and real-time 3D (4D) mode: this mode is used during ultrasounds of pregnant women to obtain a three-dimensional image of the fetus and observe its movements in utero.

Food

Portable ultrasound systems can work:

• on sector;
• by a USB cable;
• by a rechargeable battery.

It is possible to choose a model that works by the three possibilities. The ideal is to check that it has at least a rechargeable battery or a connection by a USB cable, in addition to the mains plug, to guarantee a certain autonomy of the device.