The medical industry has faced many ups and downs over the past five years, predominantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on health. This has led to increased demand for diagnostic equipment. Major suppliers in Australia offer a wide range of medical equipment, including portable ultrasound machines.
New and Used Equipment
Doctors and hospitals in Australia have the option to purchase both new and used portable ultrasound machines from leading suppliers and distributors. When selling used equipment, suppliers ensure that everything is in perfect working condition and that the machine will maintain full functionality for several years. Some suppliers are family-run businesses that offer high attention to detail and personalised services.
Simple Quotation Process
It is possible to get a price quote for a portable ultrasound machine from supplier websites simply by filling in a form. Reputable suppliers respond to quotation requests rapidly. Depending on your requirements, quotes may not be 100% accurate, but they will undoubtedly provide a ballpark figure for budgetary planning purposes.
Reasons for Rapid Growth in Portable Ultrasound Systems
- Due to their compact size, portable ultrasound machines can be carried from room to room, enabling medical practitioners to diagnose bedridden and critically ill patients while minimising disruption to their quality of care.
- Chronic disorders such as liver disease and kidney cancer are becoming more prevalent. The same is true for inflammatory diseases. Portable ultrasound equipment produces images of soft tissue structures like the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys and bladder that doctors can use to diagnose abnormalities.
- An increase in emergency cases suggest a greater need for ambulatory care. This increases demand for portable ultrasound devices, driving market growth.
- The affordability of portable machines enables general practitioners, physicians, and specialists to purchase equipment for individual clinics.
Latest Developments in the Ultrasound Arena
- Visibility of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the COVID Era:Hand-held Point-of-Care Ultrasound Systems (POCUS) were already generating considerable interest prior to outbreak of COVID-19. Yet the pandemic has served to highlight the tremendous importance of this miniature imaging equipment in cases of severe emergency.
- Enhancements to Workflow Efficiency and Automation:At the request of hospitals, ultrasound manufacturers are continually developing new ways to accelerate workflow and allow more patients to be scanned by lowering the amount of work required for each exam.
- Artificial Intelligence for Improved Diagnostic Capabilities: GE Healthcare has highlighted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) automation capabilities of its new Voluson Swift ultrasound platform. It features semi-automated contouring as well as automatic recognition of fetal anatomy and location during imaging.
- Therapeutic Applications:Several years of research have demonstrated that combining an ultrasonic transducer with microbubble contrast agents assists in breaking down thrombus in blood vessels responsible for pulmonary embolisms or heart attacks. Ultrasound can also target the delivery of cancer treatments to specific organs.
- Improved Ergonomics:Several companies have attempted to improve the ergonomics of their mid-range and premium ultrasound systems to improve sonographer comfort and reduce orthopaedic issues.