Evaluation: GE Healthcare Vscan Extend with Dual Probe Handheld Ultrasound Scanner

• POCUS refers to the use of the technology by the treating physician or other caregiver at the POC, as opposed to sending the patient to an imaging specialist such as a radiologist.
• HHUS scanners are also used to guide interventional procedures, such as therapeutic injection of medications or diagnostic biopsies.

The Vscan Extend consists of the following:

• A handheld display component that is 168 × 76 × 22 mm (6.1 × 3.0 × 0.9 in) in size and weighs 321 g (11.3 oz). The display component has a serial port used for service, a port to connect the battery charger, a microSD card slot, a USB port, and a battery-status LED indicator. The display component is used to:
  • Enter patient data.
  • View the acquired images on a 127 mm (5.0 in) video display that has 1280 × 720-pixel resolution.
  • Adjust imaging parameters: depth, B-mode gain, and CDI gain.
  • Make measurements. Up to eight distance measurements can be performed on an image. Measurements can be done during patient assessments or on images archived on the device.
  • Archive digital still images and video recordings up to four seconds in duration. The device supports Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS)-compliant encryption of stored data.
  • Download patient data and DICOM Modality Worklists.
  • Export data wirelessly or via a USB cable for remote consultation, viewing, and archiving.
  • Back up encrypted patient data, store error logs, and upgrade the application software using removable microSD cards.
  • Access security features to create PIN codes to limit use of the device and secure protected health information (PHI).
  • Load Mobile Device Management clients to enable centrally administered device management.
  • Access the Internet to download vendor applications and upload data to cloud storage, as well as to access other Internet applications.
• A handheld transducer (also called a probe) connects to the display component via a 102 cm (40.5 in) cable.
  • The transducer transmits ultrasound waves into the patient and receives echoes, which are used to create an image on the video display.
  • The Vscan Extend's Dual Probe has a phased-array sector transducer on one end and a flat linear-array transducer on the other end (see the image above). It is 129 × 39 × 28 mm (5.1 × 1.5 × 1.1 in) in size and weighs 120 g (4.2 oz).
  • An LED indicates the active transducer, and on all four sides of each probe there are marks to indicate the center of the ultrasound beam, which are used during ultrasound-guided interventional procedures.
  • The table below lists the clinical application presets for each transducer.
  • You can learn about the types of ultrasound transducers in this Guidance Article.

Application Presets Supported by the GE Vscan Extend with Dual Probe ​ ​ Transducer Type, Frequency Range Footprint, L**×**W (mm)* Application Preset** Phased array, 1.7-3.8 MHz 19 × 13 Cardiac, abdominal, obstetrics, aorta, cranial Flat linear array, 3.3-8.0 MHz 35 × 9 Lungs, vascular, soft tissue, ophthalmic*** * The footprint is the portion of the probe that comes in contact with the patient. ** Information on applications is drawn from vendor product literature. *** Ophthalmic application preset is not available in the United States, China, or Japan. ​...