Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

DaviesB · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 3

Hi,

I guess Im new here. Im a vet.

I'm thinking of an ultrasound machine purchase. The unit must be mobile and suitable for mix practice. Cost is also another issue.

Does anyone have any recommendations based on their experince.

Thanks.

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 469

Contact this number, may be next week.

Mr Tong
012-257 6166
Inspire Vision Technologies Sdn Bhd.

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 425

Well, I am NOT a sales rep for any company but if I was to buy a protable one for mixed practice I would get an ALOKA 500 with a 5 Mhz linear probe. That's just my preference having used quite a few different models comparing both performance and price. Some people don't like it so you probably want to try out a few models (the ones you can actually afford) and see which ones you like the best for what you want to do.

The probes can cost more than the machine itself so consider what you want to do with the machine. Do you want to scan tendons in large animal, primarily reproductive or transabdominal scans? that makes a HUGE difference in the probe selection. In addition, features of the machine such as colour doppler (which are available in some medium range models), large screen? bright screen, durability, weight, all these things have different importance to me compared to you so I would strongly advise that you try out a couple of machines before making a decision on such an expensive piece of equipment.

Happy shopping

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 469

If you are buying a machine for mix practice, you might have a tough time in selection of probes. You probably need a microconvex around 5Mhz for cat and small to medium breed dog. Large breed, penetration just not good enough although there are some enhancement mode in the better machine. You will need a linear probe with high frequency like 8Mz for superficial structure like skin, testicle, bladder, eye... For a large animal, you need low frequency convex probes and if you are thinking about reproductive ultrasound, "rectal probe" is probably needed. You can use the linear 8Mhz for the tendon. So selection of probes is very critical depending on your budget and how many probe you can afford. Generally, small animal practice will have one microconvex, and if budget allow, a linear 8MHz will be ideal. I think for a mix practice, you need at least 3 probes to achieve the reasonable pictures. But the salesman will give you a better picture.

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Hi DaviesB,
Where are you located? In Malaysia?

DaviesB · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 3

Thank you for your comments.

Currently my particular interest would be in reproductive ultrasound in large to small breed dogs.

So is it wise just to have one probe of 5mhz microconvex or a least get another rectal probe probaly for a large breed dog?

I'm not sure of cost of these machines but it would be nice if someone could quote me figure.

Yeah I'm currently practicing in East Malaysia.

Thanks.

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 425

So you do not plan to use it in your LA side of the practice?

To be quite honest, most reproductive problems can be detected with a 5 MHz probe. Normal ovaries can be hard to see but things like cystic ovaries can be found with regular probes. If you want to detect smaller structures you could get a 8.5 MHz probe and you can do finer diagnostics like look for ovarian remanents (still rare to find even with good machine). I don't know what you planned to do with a rectal probe on a large breed dog....

Another option is to get machines and probes that has a range but that probably will increase your costs.

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 469

Dr csh is right,you can use a 5MHz for PD in even largest breed dog. You don't need a rectal probe in dog. The type of probes to purchase very much depend on if you include large animal (cow and mare) into your practice.

Dr HanMRCVS · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 560 Location: Johor Bahru

Well hi there DaviesB,

It is indeed nice to see more Malaysian practitioners esp from East Malaysia joining our forum. In regards of your ultrasound interest, currently i am using a 5mhz probe on an aloka machine.

If i have a choice, i would love to upgrade to a multi frequency probe (convex). So that i do not need to have to many different probes hanging all over the place and for easier transport. Nevertheless, even with a 5mhz probe, straight foward procedures like pd is easily determined in large breed dogs. as for small breed dogs, gentle abdominal palpation should do the trick.

Just to share, i have been able to diagnose splenic rupture, urolith, pyometra, hypersplenism and hepatic abscess etc just with a 5mhz probe. While i must admit, at times the resolution isnt clear, at least it got the job done.

Over the years of using the machine, it has just managed to pay for itself (i got it second hand). I presume if you get a new one, you may not recover the cost if you consider how expensive a new set is and how much you lose once you sell it second hand.

Nevertheless, it was still a good investment!

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 469

Dr Han is right. With a 5Mhz probe you can see quite a lot of structure. If possible go straight for a microconvex instead of a convex probe, as most of the salesman will tell you, it's ok what, everybody use it. If you are using it in a cat or scanning a narrow area, you'll be cursing because only a small strip of the probe and screening is functioning.

Most of the structure means you can get a rough idea of the organs. Major organs, obvious structures... Can be easily identified from a 5Mhz with some compromised. But superficial details will be missed. It is very difficult to identify adrenal gland with a convex probes, and very difficult to identify a parathyroid gland or thyroid examination without a 8Mhz linear. I've missed a haemangiosarcoma in a cat's mammary gland using just microconvex 5mhz. If I had a linear 8, I might be able to pick up the growht when it is still in early stage. I only see the malignancy when it is discharging. Me bad. I'm sure experience user like Dr Heng can see a lot of thing with very compromised instrument because ultrasound is very user dependent.

If budget permit, invest on the probe as it will make you life a lot more easier. Go for a macchine with multiple slot for probes. Just a click of button to change probe instead of off machine, change probes and then restart. Ultrasound is a machine with high sensitivity and low specificity. The better you have the less chances you make error or miss something.

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 425

To be quite honest, you don't need a fancy set up. We use the same U/S machine with the 5 MHz linear rectal probe to work on both large and small animals and we get decent images for the majority of what we do. You can pretty much do preg checks and fetal measurements to estimate gestation in ANY size dogs beginning 21 d post LH peak (ideally 28 d), get fetal heart rates for SA dystocia cases, pyometra diagnosis, prostatic problems, etc. in the SA side and then, bring the same machine and probe to measure placental thickness, sex fetuses, follicle aspirates, fetus viability exam, twin reductions, breeding soundness exams, etc. in the LA side.

The only thing, if you want to use it for SA only, I would recommend a sector probe.