Evaluation: Mindray TE7 Point-of-Care Ultrasound Scanner
February 26, 2020 | Evaluations & Guidance
Preview
- The TE7 is a portable ultrasound scanner intended for POCUS applications.
- POCUS refers to the use of the technology by the treating physician or other caregiver at the point of care, as opposed to sending the patient to an imaging specialist such as a radiologist.
- POCUS scanners are also used to guide interventional procedures, such as therapeutic injection of medications or diagnostic biopsies.
- The TE7 measures 38 × 38 × 13 cm (115 × 15 × 5.1 in) (H × W × D) and weighs 8.2 kg (18 lb) with the three-probe-port configuration and one probe. There is a telescoping handle on the top of the console for transport. Detachable holders for probes, gel bottles, or a bar-code scanner can be attached depending on the user preference. The scanner also has a built-in audio speaker.
- There is a 38 cm (15 in) high-resolution, flat-panel touchscreen video display with horizontal and vertical viewing angles of ±85°.
- The display is used to view acquired data, select transducers, select presets and imaging modes, adjust image quality, obtain measurements, annotate images, and perform calculations. All controls and a virtual QWERTY keyboard are accessed on the touchscreen. Touchscreen gestures are used to make some imaging changes, such as magnification and color Doppler imaging (CDI) region of interest (ROI) positioning and sizing.
- The display is sealed for easy cleaning, and the touchscreen functions can be locked to prevent inadvertent control changes during cleaning.
- Transducer ports
- The TE7 is available with two options to connect transducers: either a single port or three ports located on the back of the scanner.
- Probes are kept readily available in detachable holders on the sides of the display. The three-port model allows users to quickly change probes using a control on the touchscreen.
- Internal digital storage
- The scanner has a 128 GB hard drive, with 74 GB dedicated for patient data storage.
- Used to archive acquired data and support software applications
- Wireless connectivity
- The scanner has wireless LAN capability standard, and there is a Wi-Fi strength indicator on the display.
- Wireless connectivity enhances communication with a hospital intranet, picture archiving and communication system (PACS), or cloud storage.
- Access ports
- Access ports allow data to be exported for archiving or review and imported for fusion imaging and review.
- The scanner has four USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port, an HDMI output port, and a port to connect an electrocardiogram (ECG) cable
- A removable lithium-ion battery and a battery charge indicator on the video display
- Batteries provide power to the scanner, and maintain the scanner while in standby mode.
- Accessed through a panel on the rear of the scanner
- Major software components include the following:
- The TE7 employs the vendor's echo-enriched beam-forming technology and offers the standard imaging modes and features listed below. For more information about features not described here, please see Ultrasound: Key Terms and Abbreviations.
- Conventional and harmonic B-mode imaging
- Phase Shift harmonic imaging
- M-mode
- Pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler
- CDI
- Power Doppler imaging (PDI)
- Spatial compound imaging (Mindray feature name: iBeam)
- Noise reduction software (iClear)
- Tissue-specific imaging (TSI), which optimizes image quality based on tissue type, such as muscle or fat
- Automatic optimization for PW Doppler (performed by using the iScan control when in PW Doppler mode)
- A standby mode that saves battery power when the scanner is not in use and permits rapid power-up
- Calculation and analysis packages for abdominal, cardiac, gynecologic, musculoskeletal, obstetric, and urologic applications. These packages enhance data analysis and reporting.
- iScanHelper, an onboard tutorial that shows basic scanning techniques and examples of clinical images. Supported for gynecologic, obstetric, nerve, small parts, and urologic applications.
- Z-Tracking transducer tracking technology, which provides the ability to track transducers used during exams and include this information in the patient's medical record. This data has the potential to reduce cross-contamination within a facility.
- Access to Qpath (from Telexy Healthcare)—Provides secure Internet access to a third-party cloud-based service used for image archiving, exam reporting, billing, and data tracking for professional credentialing and laboratory quality assurance.
- The TE7 employs the vendor's echo-enriched beam-forming technology and offers the standard imaging modes and features listed below. For more information about features not described here, please see Ultrasound: Key Terms and Abbreviations.
- There is a 38 cm (15 in) high-resolution, flat-panel touchscreen video display with horizontal and vertical viewing angles of ±85°.
- Optional device components and software features include:
- Application-specific transducers (see the table below). For more information on transducer types and their applications, see our article Types of Diagnostic Ultrasound Transducers.
- Transducers transmit the ultrasound beam into the patient's body and receive the returning echoes for data acquisition, processing, and display.
- They consist of a handheld probe on a cable with a connector to attach it to the scanner.
- Wheeled stand
- Allows the scanner to be mounted on wheels to create a self-contained system, as well as to enhance transportability within a facility and use at the bedside
- The stand has a 36.8 × 21.6 × 6.4 cm (14.5 × 8.5 × 2.5 in) (W × L × H) removable storage bin for accessories, and four 12.5 cm (5 in) swivel-casters that all have locks. When mounted on the stand, the scanner can tilt 50° up, and 5° down to allow optimal viewing of the display. The stand has a handle to transport and position the scanner. The handle has two built-in gel bottle holders on the back and notches for probe cable and AC cord management. Attached to the back of the stand are a wipes dispenser holder and a tray to hold an optional printer. A retractable AC power cord is in the base of the stand.
- The scanner mounted on the stand measures 126.6-155.6 × 53.5 × 62 cm (49.8-61.3 × 21 × 24.4 in) (H × W × D) and weighs 50 kg (110 lb) without probes.
- Tabletop stand
- Allows the scanner to be used on a table or other horizontal surface
- The scanner attaches to the stand, which allows the display to tilt 50° up and 5° down for optimal viewing.
- Wall mount
- Allows the scanner to be mounted on a wall for zero-footprint use
- The scanner attaches to the wall bracket, which allows the display to tilt and swivel for optimal viewing.
- Footswitches
- A two- or three-pedal footswitch is available to allow users to activate controls such as freeze and image storage using their feet.
- Wired footswitches connect to the scanner via USB; the scanner also supports wireless footswitches.
- ECG module
- The three-lead ECG module allows assessment and display of patient cardiac electrical activity.
- The ECG module connects to the TE7 via the ECG port.
- Printer
- Used to make hard-copy prints
- The printer connects to the TE7 via a USB cable and requires direct connection to mains power. An optional mount is available to attach the printer to the wheeled stand.
- Bar-code reader
- Can be used to enter patient data
- Attaches to the scanner via a USB port
- Software packages supported by certain transducers
- Continuous-wave (CW) Doppler software for detection of high-velocity blood flow that may be difficult to assess using PW Doppler. Primarily used for cardiac applications.
- Anatomical M-mode (Free Xros M) software, which allows an M-mode cursor to be placed in any desired location to assess and measure moving structures, such as cardiac wall motion.
- Doppler tissue imaging. The Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) package includes TDI, tissue velocity imaging (TVI), tissue velocity Doppler (TVD), tissue velocity motion (TVM), and tissue energy imaging (TEI). Allows assessment and measurement of cardiac activity, which is required for comprehensive cardiac examinations.
- Enhanced needle visualization software (iNeedle+) to improve the reflectivity of needles used for interventional procedures such as biopsies and therapeutic injections. iNeedle improves the user's ability to identify the location and trajectory of needles in soft tissues.
- Panoramic B-mode imaging software (iScape View), which allows acquisition of static B-mode images that demonstrate more anatomy than is possible using conventional imaging. Also referred to as extended-field-of-view imaging.
- Exam protocols software (iWorks): Automated workflow protocols that provide step-by-step guidance to perform selected examinations. The protocol templates are user-customizable.
- Voice-recognition software (iVocal) allowing the user to employ voice commands to perform functions such as freezing and storing images and increasing or decreasing the gain. Utilizes an iVocal microphone connected to the scanner via USB.
- Intima-media thickness (IMT) software for automatic detection and measurement of the thickness of the intima-media components of blood vessel walls. Abnormally thickened vessel walls are an indication of vascular disease.
- Auto EF software, which provides automated detection of cardiac diastole and systole frames and calculates end-diastolic function (EDF), ejection systolic velocity (ESV), and ejection fraction (EF).
- Smart 3D software for acquisition and display of three-dimensional data. Supported on the L12-4s and L14-6Ns transducers.
- Contrast-enhanced imaging for cardiac applications (Left Ventricular Opacification, or LVO): Software that allows the scanner to be used for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging examinations of the left cardiac ventricle. Supported on the P4-2s and SP5-1s transducers.
- Contrast-enhanced imaging for non-cardiac applications (UWN Contrast): Imaging software allowing the scanner to be used for contrast-enhanced abdominal ultrasound imaging examinations. Read more about contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in our report Advances in Diagnostic Ultrasound: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging. Supported on the C5-1s, C5-2s, and C4-1s transducers.
- Quantification and analysis software (UWN Contrast Imaging QA). When used with UWN, this capability allows quantitative analyses of contrast enhancement. Supported on the C5-1s, C5-2s, and C4-1s transducers.
- eSpacial Navi software, which provides 4-D (i.e., real-time 3-D) magnetic needle navigation technology to enhance needle visualization and localization during in-plane or out-of-plane interventional procedures. Supported on the L11-3VNs transducer.
- Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) 3.0 connectivity to permit access to PACS for image sharing for efficient data archiving and review.
- Application-specific transducers (see the table below). For more information on transducer types and their applications, see our article Types of Diagnostic Ultrasound Transducers.