Cardiac Ultrasound Machines use ultrasound technology to show live images of the structural and functional aspects of the cardiovascular system. This process of imaging the heart and the blood vessels is popularly known as echocardiography.
Cardiology is a specialized branch of medicine; therefore, cardiovascular ultrasound machines employ highly sophisticated technology to produce accurate echocardiograms. Ultrasound machines developed for cardiology are indispensable diagnostic instruments that help cardiac specialists identify and diagnose the anomalies of the heart and blood vessels before they can proceed with the treatment. Whether it’s the emergency medicine department or the intensive cardiac care unit, not having a cardiac ultrasound machine within easy reach is out of the question.
What’s the Average Price of a Cardiac Ultrasound Machine?
Cardiac ultrasound machines have a starting price point of $18,000 and can go up to $50,000. Most ultrasound scanners are designed to serve various radiology departments and have a higher price tag than dedicated cardiac ultrasound machines. Portable ultrasound machines start at a much lower price at $3000.
How Does a Cardiac Ultrasound Machine Work?
Cardiac ultrasound machines use transducers — devices that convert one form of energy into another, to map the heart and blood vessels. Multiple transducers are placed over the chest and upper abdominal areas. These transducers then release high-frequency sound waves (ultrasonic waves) that travel through the body and are echoed back. The echos are picked up by the transducer and transmitted as electrical impulses that are mapped on the echocardiogram.
Echocardiograms can pick up anomalies like clots, aortic problems, pericardial tamponades that could lead to cardiac arrests, and more. They can also map the blood flow between major blood vessels and heart valves using the Doppler ultrasound echo and help doctors assess the condition of the cardiac system.
If you’re a medical professional looking to purchase a cardiac ultrasound machine, read on to learn more about the best cardiac ultrasound machines available in the market. This guide will answer all the pertinent questions you have like, what features to look for in an excellent cardiac ultrasound machine, how to judge the value of one based on performance, cost, and other essential parameters, and how to determine which brand and model will work best for your needs.
Types of Cardiac Ultrasound Machines
Cardiac ultrasound machines can be divided into three categories based on price brackets, performance, and features:
- Best-in-Class Cardiac Ultrasound Machines
These machines are priced anywhere from $15,00 to $50,000 and offer top-of-the-range features. They incorporate the latest technological advancements like 4D and 4D TEE imaging, support all cardiac disciplines like pediatric, 2D Strain, 4D Strain, and LVO, have the fastest image and data processors, the best LED screens, high-resolution graphics, ergonomic design, and superior workflow. Based on the above criteria, we deem the GE Vivid E9 as the best-in-class cardiac ultrasound machine.
- Portable Cardiac Ultrasound Machines
Portable cardiac ultrasound machines make it easy for clinicians and mobile hospitals to diagnose heart ailments and abnormalities with greater ease and better accuracy. Patients can get a proper diagnosis on their first visit to the medical professional and save precious time. It’s also helpful for doctors to explain their diagnosis to patients, involve them in the treatment plans, and enhance their practice. Portable machines do not compromise on the performance or output, even as they provide the flexibility to offer ultrasound scans at convenient locations. We recommend the GE Vivid IQ as the best portable cardiac ultrasound machine, while the Philips CX50 comes a close second.
- Shared Service Cardiac Ultrasound Machines
As explained above, you can use shared service ultrasound machines in other fields of medical science without compromising on the quality of imaging and the accuracy of the data. We recommend the Philips EPIQ 7 as the best shared service ultrasound machine based on its performance, features, and the high value for money it provides.
Typical Features of a Cardiac Ultrasound Machine
Ultrasound machines, in general, can be used in various medical fields like OB/GYN, Urology, Musculoskeletal System, etc., apart from Cardiology. These are known as Shared Service Ultrasound Machines or General Imaging Ultrasound Machines.
Shared service ultrasonic scanning systems are much more costly than regular cardiac ultrasound machines as the additional features catering to the different modalities add up the costs. They have a higher number of probes, different ultrasound frequency bands and settings, and generic design features to cater to various organ systems.
Cardiac ultrasound machines, on the other hand, are designed to scan and get real-time images of cardiac structures and monitor vascular function via non-invasive methods. Low-frequency ultrasound probes perform these functions with small footprints. Here’s a look at the typical features of a cardiac ultrasound machine that distinguish it from a general imaging ultrasound machine.
Cardiac Ultrasound Probes
Probes are the transducers placed over the cardio-abdominal area and are responsible for emitting as well as capturing the echos of the ultrasound waves. Probes differ in their operating frequencies, physical dimensions, footprints, and output image formats. Cardiac ultrasound machines typically use probes with small footprints.
- The most widely used cardiac probe is the Phased Array Transducer with a central frequency of 2Mhz — 7.5Mhz.
- Continuous Wave Doppler, a.k.a. Pencil Transducer, is used to measure the speed of sound and blood flow in blood vessels.
- The Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) Probe is an endocavity transducer with a middle-range frequency of 3Mhz — 10Mhz, used to obtain internal images of the heart via the esophagus.
Although Linear Transducers also help with vascular examination, they are usually employed by shared service machines.
Display Modes
The electric pulses generated by the echocardiogram have various display modes to image the cardiac system.
2D Ultrasound
The motion-mode (M-mode), used exclusively in cardiac studies, produces graphic moving displays — as a single line, for dynamic phenomena like heartbeats, using a fixed position pulsed beam. Another commonly used mode is the brightness-modulated mode or the B-mode. It produces a 2D image of the cross-sectional slice of the study area in real-time.
Doppler Imaging
Vascular scans, blood flow speed, volume, and direction are all determined using Doppler Imaging. Different types of Doppler imaging probes include spectral Dopplers like Continuous-Wave (CW) Doppler or Pulsed-Wave (PW) Doppler, and Color-flow mapping (CFM).
3D Ultrasound
3D ultrasound imaging is achieved by transducers that scan the tissue’s volume instead of a cross-sectional slice. 3D ultrasounds are advantageous in simulating intraoperative visualizations of vascular systems.
4D Cardiac Imaging
4D cardiac imaging is an ultra-fast and safe, leading-edge technology that shows four-dimensional images of the heart function and blood vessels in real-time. The images obtained are live, high-resolution, and offer more details and clarity than any other display mode, allowing medical professionals to detect life-threatening conditions before time.
Salient Features of the Best Cardiac Ultrasound Machines
The best cardiac ultrasound machines distinguish themselves from regular scanners by offering the following features:
- AI-enabled advanced workflow features that make regular examinations a breeze
- Ergonomic design aspects that make image viewing, data capture, maneuvering, and managing the machine easy
- Faster processors that expedite post imaging procedures
- 4D imaging in keeping with the latest technological advancements in ultrasound scanning
- 4D Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
- High-resolution screens and images
- Advanced probes that can switch between different viewing modalities
- Automated quantifications and navigational features
Brief Overview of the Best Cardiac Ultrasound Machines
Based on various aspects like performance, workflow features, bleeding-edge technology used in the design and make, the variety of applications, and value for money, we recommend these three cardiac ultrasound machines as the best available in the market:
- GE Vivid E9
GE Vivid E9 Cardiac Ultrasound Machine
The GE Vivid E9 is our pick for the best cardiac ultrasound machine. It was designed to focus on 4D cardiac imaging with particular attention given to the device’s ergonomics. The wide array of customizations offered with this machine is another reason that makes it stand out from the crowd. The shared service system and its arsenal of powerful functions, high-resolution live images, advanced workflows, and the relatively economical price tag make it the ‘Cadillac’ of cardiac ultrasound machines. Here’s a comprehensive list of all the reasons why the GE Vivid E9 is our top pick:
- Accelerated Volume Architecture technology has eight times the processing power of ordinary ultrasound machines, enabling high-speed frame capture, large field-of-view, ultra-high-resolution images, and fewer artifacts. This technology also renders 4D imaging as fast as 2D imaging
- The latest in 4D technology including 4D Auto LVQ, 4D Strain, 4D Views, 4D LV Mass, and advanced 4D user toolbox
- 4D TEE feature also included to help with image-guided procedures
- View images with a single touch and connect with virtual 4D storage
- Lightweight machine with slim features, easily maneuverable
- 17” LCD screen with tilt and swivel option for easy viewing angles and a touch-based navigation panel
- EchoPAC software powered by AI technology to expedite image post-processing capability after scanning
- Automated Function Imaging (AFI) strain that’s operator-independent to assess left ventricular function
- Scan Assist and Scan Assist Pro help in quick system customizations for departmental protocols
- FlexiSwitch allows switching between volumes and slices in both live and replay modes
With prices of ultrasound scanners set to go down, the GE Vivid E9 becomes an even more attractive option to buy, especially refurbished machines on sale.
2. GE Vivid iq
GE Vivid iq Portable Cardiac Ultrasound Machine
The GE Vivid iq is our pick for the most powerful portable ultrasound machine with advanced features. It combines the best features of its predecessors, Vivid i and Vivid q, to emerge as the top contender in the portable ultrasound scanners category. It uses innovative technical concepts and design aspects to provide a cardiac ultrasound machine that you can carry around like a laptop. Its performance is not compromised because it delivers premium quality images and includes quantification tools like 2D Auto EF, ICE,2,3, IMT, TVI, and shared services. Here are the key reasons that make it the best portable cardiac ultrasound machine in the market:
- 15.6” monitor with integrated touch screen and user control panel
- TTE with Auto Gain and Smart Stress to expedite conventional exams
- 2D TEE for exceptional speed and heart function accessibility
- Intuitive and simple quantification tools like AutoEF, IMT, and Anatomical M-Mode
- Improved keystrokes with gestures like tap, pinch, and zoom enabled for ease of usage
- IntraCardiac Echo (ICE) to strengthen real-time monitoring and guidance
- Blood Flow Imaging uses a signal processing algorithm to enhance blood flow data visualization
- 10% thinner and lighter than the Vivid q
- 11 + (5) ICE probes with four probe ports
The sleek design with selective features makes the GE Vivid iq a robust and reliable performer.
3. Philips EPIQ 7
Philips EPIQ 7 Ultrasound System
We recommend the Philips EPIQ 7 as the best shared service ultrasound machine. Although it finds application in various fields of medicine, some of the advanced features it offers for the cardiac modality give it an edge over other ultrasound machines in this category. The EPIQ 7 is a refined iteration of the Philips iE33 with a compact design, Purewave single crystal and xMatrix probes, advanced workflow, and superior ergonomics. Here’s a look at a few specs that help it provide exceptional clinical performance:
- TrueVue advanced 3D display with the ability to manipulate live images’ light and shadow
- xMatrix multi-mode transducer can switch between different modes like 2D, 3D, 4D, Doppler, color Doppler, CPA, MPR, Live MPR, and Live xPlane
- MaxVue high-definition display with 1,179,648 additional image pixels than regular monitors
- 38% more viewing area and optimized display modes for dual, side/side, biplane, and scrolling imaging
- nSIGHT imaging architecture with precision beamformer and massive parallel processing
- MicroCPA for visualization of low-velocity microcirculation in exceptional small vessels
- Superb ergonomics with advanced workflow, iSCAN for B/C/D and 4D, and extraordinary mobility
- 15% fewer steps to complete examinations
- 4D TEE with fluoroscopy for image-guided and surgical procedures
- Advanced automated features like Automated 2D Cardiac Quantification, Automated Cardiac Motion Quantification, and automatic image fusion and navigation registration
- Navigational features include The Mitral Valve Navigator and Vascular Plaque Quantification
- iSSL technology, Remote Desktop, online support, and proactive monitoring
EPIQ 7 is the ideal ultrasound machine to cater to the most challenging cardiac and general imaging procedures, delivering outstanding clinical performance in all modalities.
Summing Up
Cardiac ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic modality that provides hemodynamic information within a short duration at the patient’s convenience. Echocardiography is the backbone of cardiology, and cardiac ultrasound machines are indispensable tools to perform any kind of cardiac procedure. While the market is flooded with different makes and models of ultrasound scanners, GE and Philips are the clear market leaders in research, usage of advanced technology, ergonomic design, price points, and reliability. If you’re looking for robust machines that will stand the test of time, go with the options recommended above.
