Introduction:
One of the leading manufacturers in ultrasound systems in the world, and indeed, many argue that their cardiac and vascular imaging quality trump all other systems. Even twenty years ago, with the HDI 5000, which today looks like a dinosaur relative to the glamorous, advanced systems on the market, Philips blew away all competition.
In recent years, their renown ultrasounds have revolved around the Epiq series.
Understanding Epiq
Sure, it’s easy enough to call Philips, or another certified dealer, and ask for a top ultrasound. It’s also easy enough to hear a familiar name on the other end of the phone line “Premier ultrasound? Sure, I’ve got one for you - the Epiq”.
But which Epiq is the right one for you?
Philips appears to have made a simple cheat-sheet to identify units. On the top left corner of the monitor, next to the name “Epiq 7”, there’s almost always another letter; either “G”, “C” or “W”.
The Epiq 7G stands for “general”, as in shared service, or general studies. These units generally do not include an EKG port on the body of the system, and are used for general practitioners. Abdominal, liver, thyroid, MSK, basic OB-GYN, and potentially specialized exams such as fetal echo’s are tests that are commonly conducted on the Epiq 7G.
The Epiq 7W stands for “women’s health”, and are often employed by OB-GYN’s - sometimes for 3D imaging (although Samsung and GE systems are known to provide a far superior image to that of the Epiq), high risk OB-GYN, fetal counts, and more. Many times, this system will not recognize transducers that are not commonly used for OB-GYN (such as cardiac transducers, TEE probes, high frequency linear probes and more).
Finally, the Epiq 7C is probably the most advanced system of the Epiq series. It has potential to create the most advanced cardiac images in the world. Some of the features include 3D strain, elastography, 3D/4D cardiac imaging, and more.
Additionally, this system’s software could be upgraded to enable general exams - making it, potentially, the best unit on the market.
Epiq 5 Vs Epiq 7:
The Epiq 5 units have the same variety as the Epiq 7’s. They also include “5G”, “5W” and “5C”. Generally cheaper than the Epiq 7’s (usually by approximately $10,000), these units look identical to the Epiq 7’s, but cannot upgrade to the advanced imaging that the 7 provides.
Additionally, the Epiq 7 can support more patients, has a slightly faster scan time, and provides clearer images than the Epiq 5.
There is always the concern, particularly when it comes to medical equipment, regarding the safety of the devices and the potential side effects that occur as a result of employing these machines.
It is important to know that ultrasound machines are known to be completely harmless. They function through the utilization of sound waves emitting from the probe or transducer. These sound waves are then translated into images by the ultrasound machine or system. There is no need to fear when using ultrasound machines – it is a quick, easy and efficient way to diagnose and help determine a patient’s ails.
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
