Ultimate Ultrasound Machine Guide Part III: Samsung HS50, WS80A

Ultrasound Systems - Wed Oct 03 2018

Introduction:

Absolute Medical Equipment is proud to present to you the third publication in our Ultimate Ultrasound Machine Guide blog series. Our previous two blog posts focused in on Philips and GE used ultrasound machines, and keeping up with our theme of examining some of the most popular and advanced ultrasound machines available, this article will focus in on two of Samsung’s popular ultrasound machines.

Samsung Ultrasound Background: 

Samsung, founded in 1938, began as a trading company. Since then, the company has evolved into one of the largest technology companies in the world. In 1985, Samsung acquired Medison – a healthcare manufacturer – and thus began one of the most successful partnerships in the healthcare world until this very day. Since 1985, Samsung Medison has produced some of the most advanced, cutting-edge, sleek and powerful ultrasound machines in the world.

Included in these advanced ultrasound machines are the one’s that we will discuss and elaborate on: Namely the WS80A and HS50ultrasound machines. These systems are powerful, advanced, and are armed with some of the most advanced ultrasound technology available on the market.

 

Samsung HS50

Samsung HS50 ultrasound machine

 

Samsung Medison HS50 Ultrasound Machine

Overview:

The Samsung HS50 ultrasound machine is considered a midrange ultrasound, but as far as it’s technological features and capabilities are concerned, has a place with the premium ultrasound machines. It is versatile, powerful and elegant. It is compatible with many ultrasound transducers, including single-crystal probes. In terms of application, it is a jack-of-all-trades system, and is considered a shared service ultrasound.

Technology:

The HS50’s technological capabilities has earned this ultrasound machine’s reputation among diagnosticians as a top quality system. Samsung did not stop with 3D/4D (live 3D) imaging, but continued with a new imaging technology known as STIC (Spatio-temporal image correlation). This technology is utilized to evaluate a fetus’ heart structure and function. This function is extremely advanced, and certainly not available on most ultrasound machines.

 

Other technologies include Tissue Doppler Imaging, Elastoscan (examining soft tissue for growths and tumors), Tissue Doppler Wave, Power Doppler mode, and panoramic imaging and Single Crystal technology. All of these features are generally only contained in the most powerful of ultrasound machines – yet the HS50 employs them all.

Applications:

As a shared service ultrasound machine, the HS50 provides images for a myriad of ultrasound applications. Included in this list are OB-GYN, Musculoskeletal, Urological, Vaginal, Cardiac, Small Parts (Thyroid, Breast, Testicular) and Abdominal applications. This machine is so advanced, that both specialists and general diagnosticians often employ it’s services.

Probes:

The HS50 ultrasound machine is compatible with nearly a dozen ultrasound probes and transducers. It is exceptionally important that an ultrasound machine is compatible with many types of transducers that contain a variety of frequency ranges. For example, a phased array cardiac probe that has a 1 – 4 MHz. frequency range can project different images than one that has a 4 – 8 MHz. range. The variety that Samsung offers when it comes to this machine is remarkable.

 

Samsung Medison WS80A ultrasound machine: 

Overview:

The Samsung WS80A premier ultrasound machine is one of the most advanced, modern specialty ultrasound machines that Samsung has manufactured. Unlike the HS50, the WS80A is not a shared service machine. A women’s health system, this machine can still project a variety of ultrasound images, but is not as versatile as other shared service systems. It is armed with both unique and advanced technologies, along with a variety of 3D/4D ultrasound probes / transducers.

 

Technology:

The WS80A ultrasound machine comes with all the integral technologies that most advanced ultrasounds contain. This includes THI (Tissue Harmonic Imaging), Speckle Reduction Imaging, Spatial Compound Imaging, 3D/4D imaging, triplex mode and needle enhancement.  Additionally, this machine also includes special OB-GYN application image enhancing technology. Samsung actually coined their own new term – “5D ultrasound” – which projects more intricate and vibrant images than 4D imaging.

 

5D imaging can be used to detect and inspect fetal brain growth, fetal heart development and condition, and to observe the mother to ensure that her body is handling the pregnancy as well as possible.

Samsung WS80a
Samsung WS80a

Applications:

The WS80A, despite being known for Women’s Health applications, is capable of providing images for quite a few applications. Abdominal, OB-GYN, urological, breast and vaginal applications are among those that are expected out of this system. What is less expected, however, is vascular, small parts, and superficial images. The WS80A can project 2D, 3D, 4D and even a newly developed 5D images for OB-GYN applications. This machine is much more versatile than other specialty ultrasound machines, and includes completely groundbreaking technology.

Probes:

The WS80A premier ultrasound machine is compatible with over twenty different ultrasound probes and transducers. It is compatible with five 3D/4D probes, along with a variety of linear transducers, phased array probes, curved array probes and endocavitary transducers. This assortment of probes contain probes that are engineered specifically for the WS80A, and some that are versatile and compatible with many Samsung ultrasound machines.

 

Comparison:

Applications:

We have here two distinct, powerful and cutting-edge ultrasound machines. One, the HS50, is a versatile shared service ultrasound system. It is capable of producing images for well over ten different types of applications. The WS80A, on the other hand, is a specialty system, that projects images for all applications that would fall under “women’s health” ultrasound applications.

Probes:

Despite the fact that both of these machines are considered premier ultrasound machines, the WS80A is compatible with many more 3D/4D ultrasound transducers than the HS50. On the other hand, due to the fact that the HS50 is capable of producing more images for different applications, it is compatible with a wider variety of probes (including CW, TEE and more). Both are compatible with many linear and curved array transducers however.

Technologies:

In terms of general image enhancing technologies, both of these ultrasound systems contain some of the best and most advanced features. On the other hand, because these systems are engineered for completely different purposes (general health as opposed to women’s health), the advanced technological features remain disparate – although exceptional in both cases.

 

At A.M.E. Ultrasounds we pride ourselves on providing top quality customer service. If you have a particular topic you’d be interested in learning more about or reading about, feel free to contact us!

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Sincerely,

Your team at A.M.E. Ultrasounds

Ephraim@ameultrasounds.com