Description

Siemens Acuson P500: taking your imaging to the next level

With the launch of the Acuson P500 into our range of portable ultrasound machines, we are very excited to announce that we are now stocking Siemens ultrasound systems!

The P500 perfectly fills the gap between mid-range laptop/high portable ultrasound, and high-end cart-based scanners. No longer do you have to compromise when selecting a top-of-the-range ultrasound system: with the P500, you can have both portability and advanced imaging. This machine is highly practical for private clinics and veterinary practices, as well as for mobile work.

 

Top-of-the-range echocardiography

This high-end portable ultrasound machine competes with the very best in veterinary echocardiography, with particularly impressive colour flow Doppler and spectral Doppler capabilities. This machine would be an excellent choice for cardiologists and referral centres, as images and cine loops are automatically saved in DICOM format (as well as .avi, for easy review on any computer), making them compatible with almost any reporting software. What’s more, they can also be anonymised with a single click at export, which is very useful for preparing cases for presentations and teaching.

The P500 also allows veterinarians who have begun to outgrow their current echo machine to bring their imaging to the next level. Ultrasound machines which enable the use of advanced techniques, such as Proximal Isovelocity Surface Area (PISA), are often confined to academia due to the fact that such machines have typically been large, cart-based systems, and/or out of the price range of most practices. Now, these techniques are accessible to everyone. We have test-driven this system in the most challenging patients, and have added this to the top end of our equipment offerings as a result.

Our number one transducer choice for echocardiography is the P8-4.

 

 

The P8-4 Phased Array Transducer for veterinary echocardiography

• 64-elements
• Bandwidth of 2.7 – 8MHz (frequency options of 4.2, 5.7 and 6.7MHz in the fundamental range, and 5.4, 6.2 and 7.2MHz in the harmonic range)
• Tiny footprint size of 9.6mm, ideal for getting between tiny rib spaces
• Depth up to 14cm

If you require a lower frequency phased array option, the P4-2 has a bandwidth of 1.3 – 4.4MHz, maximum depth of 30cm, and 16.6mm footprint size. However, for small animal echocardiography, we recommend the P8-4: this is the only phased array we have ever needed to use in our own clinical practice.

Right parasternal long axis view on a dog, using the P8-4 probe:

A selection of views using the P8-4:

 

VF16-5 Linear Transducer for superficial imaging

• 192 elements
• Bandwidth of 5 – 15MHz (8, 12 and 15MHz in the fundamental range, 9, 10.3, 12.6 and 14 MHz in the harmonic range)
• 34.8mm footprint
• Maximum depth of 6cm

Siemens linear probes now implement Hanafy lens technology, which results in a much narrower beam profile in the nearfield than achievable with regular transducers. This is ideal for small animal scanning (particularly of the tiniest patients: kittens, puppies, rodents and reptiles), and eliminates the need for a stand-off.

 

11M3 Microconvex probe

The Apogee 2300 had remained our first choice of ultrasound machine for 2022 due to the lack of an appropriate transducer for small animal abdominal ultrasound on the P500, but with Siemens’ introduction of a microconvex probe for the P500 in June 2022, both are now equally attractive options. Compatibility with mainstream reporting software and strain analysis programmes will make the P500 the first choice for tertiary centres and research facilities, while first opinion practice may prefer the ease of use and versatility of the Apogee 2300, which comes with everything from echocardiography through to canine obstetric software packages.

 

Ascites in a dog, imaged with the new P500 microconvex probe:

 

Colour Doppler over a kidney, with ‘low flow’ mode activated for increased sensitivity:

 

Calcified nodule in the canine spleen:

 

Power Doppler over a kidney:

 

Canine pregnancy scan:

 

The CH5-2 convex probe is also available, with a bandwidth of 1.4 – 5MHz. This 128 element probe has a 61.1mm footprint. Although many companies will sell a veterinary ultrasound machine with a large convex probe, in our experience (as specialists in veterinary ultrasound), there are more useful transducer options than a convex probe, unless your budget is truly unlimited.