From Medison Co.,Ltd.;
'Full-featured Digital Imaging On Your Desktop
The SONOACE PICO is a full-featured digital color ultrasound system with virtually all the imaging capabilities you would expect from a cart-based system with the added benefit of being fully portable. Built on a reliable Linux PC platform, the SONOACE PICO boasts all- digital beamforming and signal processing for best-in-class image resolution enhanced by a long list of advanced diagnostic tools such as harmonic imaging, color and power Doppler, and freehand 3D imaging.'

From Siemens Medical Systems;
'The SONOLINE G20™ ultrasound system quickly distances itself from the competition with next-generation all-digital system architecture that utilizes Siemens technology migration. Individual imaging parameters have been optimized for a wide variety of clinical applications and patient types. So you can realize a higher degree of diagnostic confidence. Without doubt.'

From Siemens Medical Systems;
'The SONOLINE Omnia™ ultrasound system offers mobility, high performance, and ease of use. This digital imaging system delivers excellent 2D, color flow, and Doppler image quality for a variety of general imaging exam types. In addition, the SONOLINE Omnia with cardiac option includes special features that enable use for adult cardiac imaging.'

The thermal effect of ultrasound is caused by absorption of the ultrasound beam energy. As the ultrasound waves are absorbed, their energy is converted into heat. The higher the frequency, the greater the absorbed dose, converted to heat according the equation: f = 1/T where T is the period as in simple harmonic motion. Ultrasound is a mechanical energy in which a pressure wave travels through tissue. Heat is produced at the transducer surface and also tissue in the depth can be heated as ultrasound is absorbed.
The thermal effect is highest in tissue with a high absorption coefficient, particularly in bone, and is low where there is little absorption. The temperature rise is also dependent on the thermal characteristics of the tissue (conduction of heat and perfusion), the ultrasound intensity and the length of examination time. The intensity is also dependent on the power output and the position of the tissue in the beam profile. The intensity at a particular point can be changed by many of the operator controls, for example power output, mode (B-mode, color flow, spectral Doppler), scan depth, focus, zoom and area of color flow imaging. The transducer face and tissue in contact with the transducer can be heated.

See also Thermal Units Per Hour and Ultrasound Radiation Force.

Ultrasound machines, with their various components and types, have revolutionized the field of medical imaging. These devices enable healthcare professionals to visualize internal structures, assess conditions, and guide interventions with real-time imaging capabilities. Today, medical ultrasound systems are complex signal processing machines. Assessing the performance of an ultrasound system requires understanding the relationships between the characteristics of the system, such as the point spread function, temporal resolution, and the quality of images. Image quality aspects include the detail resolution, contrast resolution and penetration. Systems with microbubble scanner modification are particularly suitable for contrast enhanced ultrasound.


In summary, ultrasound machines have diverse performance levels and corresponding price ranges, catering to various medical imaging needs. From low-performance systems with basic imaging capabilities to high-performance and premium systems with advanced features, ultrasound technology continues to advance healthcare imaging capabilities.
See also Ultrasound Physics, Handheld Ultrasound, Environmental Protection, Equipment Preparation.