It’s been more than 100 years since radiology was introduced in the medical field. Since then, the landscape of this sphere has been ever changing. Riding on the various advancements in technology, today the field of radiology has evolved from being purely diagnostic devices to interventional technologies. New contrast agents in X ray, MRI and ultrasound enable physicians to make accurate diagnoses and plan therapies with greater precision. The introduction of computer technology in radiology has changed the way radiologist and physicians view X-ray, CT and MRI reports. Digitalisation in radiology has further opened up new avenues for nuclear medicine. All this and more makes technology the driving force for radiology.
Therefore, ‘In Imaging’, the specialised magazine that tracks the latest developments and happenings in the field of radiology presents a new segment- ‘Tech Scan’. This section would offer user reviews of popular imaging products available in the market. Today, imaging systems are designed keeping in mind the user’s requirements. In this review article we intend to highlight five important qualities such as technology used, image quality delivery, durability, user-friendliness and cost effectiveness of the product.
This month we sought user reviews of a popular portable ultrasound system – the M-Turbo. This system was introduced in the Indian market by Sonosite Inc, a name well-known in providing advance ultrasound systems.
This system was designed with an intention to overcome the challenges of conventional ultrasound systems which were bulkier in size and had too many applications, in turn making their handling quite difficult for physicians. The M-Turbo ultrasound system is used for abdominal, nerve, vascular, cardiac, venous access, pelvic, and superficial imaging. This ultrasound system offers striking image quality with sharp contrast resolution and clear tissue delineation to the physicians. These features helps them to visualise details, improving their ability to differentiate structures, vessels and pathology. The system can be used in applications such as anaesthesia, critical care, cardiology, cardiovascular disease management, emergency medicine, pain management, musculoskeletal, OB/Gyn, radiology, vascular, surgery, shared services andwomen’s health.
Unique features
According to Sonosite, the M-Turbo ultrasound system is designed to provide point-of-care diagnosis, keeping in mind the user’s need for durability, high image quality and quick scanning process. The system offers an advanced set of features with a wide array of connectivity options that seamlessly connects physicians to hospital information networks and their own computers. Compared to Sonosite’s earlier system, the M-Turbo has a 16-fold increase in processing power. The device also generates remarkable improvements in image quality by simultaneously running multiple advanced algorithms. Moreover, SonoADAPT Tissue Optimisation within the system eliminates complicated manipulation of multiple controls. SonoHD Imaging Technology reduces speckle noise and other image artifacts while preserving and sharpening tissue information and SonoMB Multi-beam Imaging increases resolution of small structures and enhancing border delineation. On the other hand, having ColorHD Technology enhances colour performance, sensitivity and frame rates for more diagnostic information.
The uses of this portable system are as follows:
- Drop tested – 3 feet/91.4 cm
- Fluid-resistant user interface for patient safety
- Quick boot-up time
- Easy operation
- Capture quality video clips up to 60 seconds long
- Battery-powered operation for true mobility
- PC- and Mac-friendly for effortless data management with 2 high-speed USB 2.0 ports
- Weighs 3.4 kg/7.5 lbs with battery
- Increased application flexibility with optional Triple Transducer Connect
After understanding the unique features and benefits of the M-Turbo ultrasound system, we spoke to some users of the product who believe that this system has been quite useful during their medical procedures and in times of emergency.
| User ratings Scale: 1-5 ( 5 being the highest) | |||||
| Name of the Doctor | Technology | Durability | Image quality | User-friendliness | Value for money |
| Dr Deep Arora | 3.5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Dr Surinder M Sharma | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Dr Sathish Chandra Govind | 3 | 5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Dr Rajendra Goyal | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 |
Dr Deep Arora, Additional Director, Dept of Anaesthesiology and Pain Management, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon is of the opinion that the M-Turbo mostly fulfills his requirements of high resolution images and hassle free imaging. He stresses on the high quality images that one receives with the help of the M-Turbo machine. He says, “I come from an anaesthesia background and I normally use this system in the ICU. Since this is a portable system, it can be used in various scenarios. We can now provide for point-of-care delivery. What’s unique about the product is that the system comes with different probes for setting high frequency and low frequency. High frequency is set for giving high resolution images while low frequency is used to capture images from deep within the body. Earlier, I was using another handheld ultrasound machine from Sonosite but the M-Turbo gives 10 times higher resolution images than the previous one. Another aspect that I would like to point out is that the battery backup that we get along with this system makes it more reliable. The only drawback is that the system still does not provide for 3D images and fully coloured pictures. If these criteria are take care of, then the M-Turbo will fulfill all requirements of people like me”. When asked about the cost effectivity and the ROI, he says, “The system costs around Rs 15 lakh but is very cost effective. One can easily get ROI in a short span of time.”
While Dr Arora is much impressed with the picture quality, Dr Surinder M.Sharma, Vice Chairman, Ortho-Anaesthesia, Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon, speaks of the user-friendliness and the ability of the product to provide accurate analysis. He states, “The M-Turbo is a light weight portable system that provides high quality images in comparison to the earlier one that we used. The system takes less time to boot, thereby reducing the time taken to complete the examination. It also has a good battery backup and what makes the system unique is that it has less buttons, making it a hassle free equipment. The most important feature of this product is that the system targets the organ very well, thereby giving an accurate picture and avoiding complications. Also it provides good ROI.”
Dr Sathish Chandra Govind, Cardiologist and Head Echo Labs, Narayana Hrudayalaya Bangalore, feels that the biggest challenge of ultrasound technology is the difficulty to visualise images in certain areas. What he requires is a ultrasound system that has few probes and can provide for visual visibility. The M-Turbo system fulfills these requirements. When asked what is the most impressive feature of the M-Turbo, he replies, “Utility is the main feature of this ultrasound system. It can fit into an ICU set up and can be taken outside the hospital. Moreover, this system has improved picture quality and has a warranty between 0-5 years. I find this system to be very durable”.
“A decent ultrasound system”, says Dr Rajendra Goyal, Sr Consultant and Head, Non Invasive Cardiology Dept., Bombay Hospital, Mumbai. He goes on to say, “As echocardiology is gaining importance, portable ultrasounds like these will also play an important role. M-Turbo is extremely stable and has a good backup battery”.
Food for thought
Overall, the users of M-Turbo system acknowledge the high picture quality, durability and user-friendliness of the product. However as with any other device, the system still has more scope for improvement.
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