Shopping for a new ultrasound machine can be bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s an opportunity to take your clinic to the next level by integrating new and improved imaging equipment. But with so many different ultrasound models and system features to choose from, the process can easily become overwhelming.

This article aims to simplify your ultrasound shopping experience by introducing a top ultrasound machine– the GE Vivid S70– and comparing it to three other top ultrasound alternatives – the GE Vivid S60, the Philips Affiniti 70, and the Medison Accuvix XG.

We detail each machine’s standout features, clinical strengths and weaknesses, and price-to-performance value to help you determine the best ultrasound machine for your medical practice.

Ultrasound Machine	Details
GE Vivid S70	Price Range: $49,000 to $73,500 Monitor Size: 19 inches Imaging Modes: 2D/3D/4D Probe Ports: 3 probe ports Controls: Knobs, buttons, trackball, and 12-inch touch screen   Applications: Cardiac, OB/GYN, MSK, Urology Key Features: M-Mode, Anatomical M-Mode, Color M-Mode, Color Doppler, CW Doppler, PW Doppler, Tissue velocity M-Mode, Tissue synchronization, Tissue harmonic imaging, Strain and strain rate, Stress echo, Speckle reduction, Compound imaging, Auto IMT, DICOM 3.1, CD/DVD-R drive, Quantitative analysis, AFI, Auto ejection fraction, Scan Assistant, 4D TEE, Blood flow imaging
GE Vivid S60	Price Range: $45,000 to $67,500 Monitor Size: 19 inches Imaging Modes: 2D Probe Ports: 3 probe ports Controls: Knobs, buttons, trackball, and 12-inch touch screen Applications: Cardiac, OB/GYN, MSK, Urology Key Features: B-Flow, M-Mode, Anatomical M-Mode, Tissue M-Mode, Color Doppler, CW Doppler, PW Doppler, Tissue harmonic imaging, Tissue tracing mode, Strain and strain rate, Tissue synchronization, Auto EF, Auto IMT, DICOM 3.1, Stress echo, Panoramic imaging
Philips Affiniti 70	Price Range: $45,000 to $67,500 Monitor Size: 21.5” LCD Imaging Modes: 2D, 3D, and 4D Probe Ports: 4 probe ports Controls: Knobs, buttons, trackball, and 12-inch touch screen Applications: Cardiac, OB/GYN, Vascular, MSK, Urology, Emergency medicine, Pediatrics Key Features: Touchscreen, 4 active probe ports, PureWave transducers, ShearWave elastography
Medison Accuvix XG	Price Range: $10,000 to $15,000 Monitor Size: 19” LCD Imaging Modes: 2D, 3D, and 4D Probe Ports: 3 probe ports Controls: Knobs, buttons, trackball, footswitch, and 12” touchscreen Applications: OB/GYN, Abdominal, Breast, General Imaging, MSK, Vascular, Small Parts, Cardiac, Urology, Venous Key Features: 3 probe ports, S-video, Color Doppler, PW Doppler, Speckle Reduction, 4D Virtual HD, DICOM, Elastography, HPRF

GE Vivid S70 Vs. Similar Models

The GE Vivid S70 is a high-end ultrasound machine with shared service functionality. It has an impressive set of advanced cardiovascular imaging features and clinical applications for OB/GYN, Musculoskeletal, Urology, Abdominal, Small Parts, and a host of others.

The extensive scope of GE Vivid S70’s imaging capabilities makes it a great choice for most healthcare teams. But its alternatives are equally impressive and maybe an even better fit for your medical practice.

The GE Vivid S60, Philips Affiniti 70, and Medison Accuvix XG are all shared service ultrasound machines with outstanding performance across multiple clinical settings. Read on for a breakdown of each machine’s unique features, price, pros, and cons.

GE Vivid S70

The GE Vivid S60 replaces GE’s earlier Vivid S5 and S6 models with enhancements to the software architecture and processing power.

The GE Vivid S70 is powered by GE’s cutting-edge cSound software, which provides deeper scanning depths and better image resolution at every level. Using cSound, clinicians can scan hard-to-image patients with greater accuracy and confidence.

The GE Vivid S70’s 3D and 4D imaging capabilities, combined with its advanced XDclear transducer technology, yield crystal clear, high-definition images and video. The GE Vivid S70 also works with 4D TEE probes to deliver images and videos of the heart with incredible structural detail.

A distinguishing feature of the GE Vivid S70 is its compact, lightweight design, allowing easy transport between exam rooms and between distant clinical locations.

The Ge Vivid S70 ranges between $49,000 and $73,500.

Pros:

• Speckle reduction feature improves the quality of B-Mode scanning by reducing artifacts
• Compound Imaging combines sonographic information from different angles for improved image detail
• Quantitative analysis tools
• Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) feature to estimate amniotic fluid volume in a pregnant uterus
• Scan Assistant tool lets users save scanning protocols for routine imaging exams
• M-Mode, Anatomical M-Mode, Tissue velocity M-Mode, and Color M-Mode features for accurate, real-time measurements of various echo parameters
• Various Doppler modes, including Color, Continuous-Wave, and Pulsed-Wave Doppler
• Strain and Strain rate feature allows clinicians to assess myocardial function
• Tissue Synchronization feature allows clinicians to assess Left Ventricular dyssynchrony
• Tissue harmonic imaging improves image clarity by enhancing edge detection so patient anatomy is clearly defined
• Stress Echo to evaluate heart function under stress
• Auto Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) feature gives automatic measurements of anterior and posterior walls for accurate carotid status
• Auto Ejection Fraction feature provides an automated measurement of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during cardiac exams
• 3D and 4D imaging

Cons:

• No HD Live imaging
• No Spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC)
• No Shear Wave Elastography

GE Vivid S60

The GE Vivid S60 offers many of the same great features found in the GE Vivid S60. It uses XDclear probes, cSound software, and has great transportability.

The GE Vivid S60 is also similar to the S70 in that it excels in cardiovascular imaging, while also providing exceptional performance for:

• OB/GYN
• MSK
• Urology
• Abdominal
• Pediatric
• Small parts

The major difference between the GE Vivid S60 and Vivid S70 is that the S60 does not have 3D and 4D imaging. Additionally, the Vivid S60 has fewer transducer options than the Vivid S70. These differences lower the price of the Vivid S60 to between $45,000 and $67,500.

Pros:

• B-Flow imaging for enhanced visualization of moving blood cells
• M-Mode, Anatomical M-Mode, and Tissue M-Mode features for accurate, real-time measurements of various echo parameters
• Various Doppler modes, including Color, Continuous-Wave, and Pulsed-Wave Doppler
• Tissue harmonic imaging improves image clarity by enhancing edge detection so patient anatomy is clearly defined
• Tissue tracing mode for real-time tracking of moving soft tissue
• Strain and Strain rate feature allows clinicians to assess myocardial function
• Tissue Synchronization feature allows clinicians to assess Left Ventricular dyssynchrony
• Auto Ejection Fraction feature provides an automated measurement of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during cardiac exams
• Auto Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) feature gives automatic measurements of anterior and posterior walls for accurate carotid status
• Stress Echo to evaluate heart function under stress
• Panoramic imaging to measure objects/masses larger than the field of view
• DICOM 3.1 compatibility

Cons:

• No 3D/4D imaging
• No Spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC)
• No Shear Wave Elastography

Philips Affiniti 70

The Philips Affiniti 70 shares a number of similarities with the GE Vivid S70. It is a high-end, shared service ultrasound machine that offers phenomenal imaging performance across multiple medical specialties, including:

• Cardiac
• OB/GYN
• Vascular
• Musculoskeletal
• Urology
• Pediatrics

Like the GE Vivid S70, the Philips Affiniti 70 has 3D and 4D imaging modes. It also offers a broad range of Doppler modes for imaging blood flow, including:

• B Doppler
• M Doppler
• Pulsed-Wave (PW) Doppler
• Continuous-Wave (CW) Doppler
• Color Flow Doppler

The Philips Affiniti 70 is also on par with the GE Vivid S70 in terms of image quality. It uses Philips’ advanced PureWave transducer technology to produce remarkably clear images on a large 21.5” LCD monitor.

One of the stand-out features in the Philips Affiniti 70 not available in the GE Vivid S70 is Shear Wave Elastography. Using Shear Wave Elastography, clinicians can perform liver assessments and evaluate tissue elasticity for various traumatic and pathologic MSK cases.

The Philips Affiniti 70 also performs Spatio-temporal Image Correlation (STIC) – an automatic volume acquisition through the fetal heart, resulting in a complete fetal cardiac cycle displayed in motion in an endless 3D cine loop sequence.

The price of the Philips Affiniti 70 ranges between $45,000 and $67,500.

Pros:

• DICOM 3.0 compatibility
• Tissue Specific Presets (TSP) for improved imaging in hard-to-image patients
• AutoSCAN automatically and continuously optimizes the brightness of the image at the default gain and TGC settings
• Tissue Harmonic Imaging improves image clarity by enhancing edge detection, so patient anatomy is clearly defined
• Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography (CEUS) improves visualization of anatomic structure and lesions, especially for patients with contraindications to CT and MRI
• Anatomically Intelligent Ultrasound (AIUS) feature automatically identifies anatomy and performs the most common tasks during exams
• Spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC)
• Shear Wave Elastography

Cons:

• No HD Live
• No 3D Echo

Medison Accuvix XG

The Medison Accuvix XG is a midrange ultrasound that excels in the area of OB/GYN imaging and women’s healthcare. It also provides strong performance for:

• Abdominal
• General Imaging
• MSK
• Vascular
• Small Parts
• Cardiac
• Urology
• Venous

Similar to the GE Vivid S70, the Medison Accuvix XG is capable of 3D and 4D imaging. It also has the additional feature of 4D Virtual HD – a breakthrough in real-time 4D technology that allows expecting parents to view high-definition video of their baby in the womb.

The Medison Accuvix XG has an excellent price-to-performance profile. It’s one of the few ultrasound machines at its price point that offers 3D and 4D imaging plus advanced features like 4D Virtual HD, and Panoramic imaging.

The Medison Accuvix also has multiple Doppler settings, allowing clinicians to view the vascular system with remarkable detail. Its Doppler modes include:

• High Pulse Repeat Frequency (HPRF) Doppler
• Color Doppler
• Pulsed-Wave Doppler
• Power Angio Doppler
• Continuous-Wave Doppler

The price of the Medison Accuvix XG ranges between $10,000 and $15,000.

Pros:

• Ergonomic user interface for an intuitive workflow
• DICOM compatibility
• Speckle Reduction feature improves the quality of B-Mode scanning by reducing artifacts
• Strain Elastography for assessments of the liver, breast, prostate, and small lesions
• S-Video

Cons:

• No Shear Wave Elastography
• No Strain and Strain Rate
• No Spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC)

What to Consider When Buying an Ultrasound Machine

The ideal outcome for most prospective ultrasound buyers is finding a device within their budget with all the imaging features needed to deliver reliable, quality patient care. To achieve this, it is critical to clearly define the intended clinical use of your ultrasound machine and consider the advanced features you’ll need in your practice.

Intended Clinical Use

The intended clinical use of your ultrasound machine will likely be the determining factor in your purchasing decision. Most healthcare teams benefit from buying a shared service ultrasound machine that they can use in multiple clinical settings.

But, in other cases, a shared-service system may not be the best. For instance, an OB/GYN clinic would likely be better off with an OB/GYN-centric ultrasound machine. The same can be said for a cardiology clinic and cardiac-focused ultrasound machines.

Another consideration is whether you will use your ultrasound for diagnostic purposes, treatment, or both – this will determine the key features to seek out in your prospective ultrasound system.

For example, surgical teams and anesthesiologists often use ultrasounds for perioperative purposes. They will benefit from purchasing a device with advanced features like 4D imaging and Needle Recognition for precise needle or catheter placements.

Advanced Features

When narrowing down your options between similar ultrasound machines, it helps to identify the features and tools you use most frequently in your practice. Clinics that see a high volume of patients and have demanding imaging needs will benefit from an ultrasound machine with advanced imaging capabilities. Some advanced features to look for include:

• Compatibility with a wide selection of transducers
• HD Live imaging
• Intracardiac Echo (ICE)
• Shear Wave Elastography
• 3D/4D imaging
• Artificial Intelligence tools
• Workflow efficiency tools
• Productivity enhancements

Why Buy From Strata?

The GE Vivid S70, GE Vivid S60, Philips Affiniti 70, and Medison Accuvix XG are all shared service ultrasound machines with exceptional performance across multiple medical specialties.

The GE Vivid S70, Vivid S60, and Philips Affiniti 70 are fantastic options for clinics with advanced cardiac imaging needs. The Medison Accuvix XG is an excellent option for OB/GYN practices with a conservative budget.

In addition to the four ultrasound machines compared in this article, Strata Imaging offers complete rental, maintenance, repair, and sale of almost every type of ultrasound machine and related peripherals to all 50 states.

Browse our extensive catalog of ultrasound equipment to find the best fit for your medical practice.

When you buy from Strata Imaging, you get more than a first-class machine at a great price. You can also access our expert repair team and knowledgeable customer service reps.

Give us a call today at 866-770-9605 or fill out this form with any questions you have, and our dedicated service team will gladly assist you.

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