Finding the right ultrasound machine for your medical practice adds a ton of value to both your patients and your clinical staff. But with so many different ultrasound models on the market, identifying the best fit for your healthcare team can be a complicated task.

This article aims to simplify your ultrasound purchasing decision by introducing the GE Voluson E10 and comparing it to three other top ultrasound alternatives – the GE Voluson E9, the Philips iU22, and the Philips iE33.

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 Voluson E10	Price Range: $60,000 to $90,000 Monitor Size: 23 inches Imaging Modes: 2D/3D/4D Probe Ports: 4 probe ports Controls: Knobs, buttons, trackball, and 12-inch touch screen   Applications: Cardiac, OB/GYN, MSK, Vascular, Urology Key Features: B-Flow, M-Mode, Anatomical M-Mode, Color Doppler, CW Doppler, PW Doppler, Tissue Doppler, AutoDoppler calculations, Tissue harmonic imaging, Speckle reduction, Volume speckle reduction, Tomographic, XTD, Compound imaging, Auto IMT, Scan assistant, DICOM 3.1, SonoIT, SonoNT, SonoRenderLive, SonoBiometry, SonoVCAD, 3D/4D, 4D virtual HD, Advanced 4D, Advanced STIC, HD-DVR
GE Voluson E8	Price Range: $70,000 to $85,000 Monitor Size: 15 inches (19 inches option) Imaging Modes: 2D/3D/4D Probe Ports: 4 probe ports Controls: Knobs, buttons, trackball, and 10.4-inch touch screen Applications: Cardiac, OB/GYN, MSK, Vascular, Urology Key Features: M-Mode, Anatomical M-Mode, ColorColor Doppler, CW Doppler, PW Doppler, Tissue Doppler, AutoDoppler calculations, Tissue harmonic imaging, Speckle reduction, Volume speckle reduction, Tomographic, XTD, Compound imaging, Auto IMT, Scan assistant, DICOM 3.1, SonoIT, SonoNT, SonoRenderLive, SonoBiometry, SonoVCAD, 3D/4D, 4D virtual HD, Advanced 4D, Advanced STIC, HD-DVR
Philips iU22	Price Range: $15,000 to $22,500 Monitor Size: 17 inches (20 inches option) Imaging Modes: 2D/3D/4D Probe Ports: 3 probe ports Controls: Knobs, buttons, trackball, footswitch, and 8.4” touchscreen Applications: Cardiac, OB/GYN, Vascular, Urology, MSK Key Features: M-Mode, Color Doppler, CW Doppler, PW Doppler, Tissue Doppler, Tissue harmonic imaging, Needle recognition, Compound imaging, Auto IMT, Speckle reduction, Strain and strain rate, Strain elastography, Shear wave elastography, Auto optimization, DICOM 3.1, 3D/4D, Panoramic, Continuous high pulse repetition frequency, STIC, Stress echo, CD/DVD-R drive
Philips iE33	Price Range: $20,000 to $30,000 Monitor Size: 17 inches (20 inches option) Imaging Modes: 2D Probe Ports: 3 probe ports Controls: Knobs, buttons, trackball, footswitch, and dual 8.4” touchscreens Applications: Cardiac, Vascular, MSK Key Features: M-Mode, Color doppler, CW doppler, Pw doppler, Tissue doppler, Power doppler

GE Voluson E10 Vs Similar Models

The GE Voluson E10 is one of GE’s most highly rated ultrasound machines. It is a powerful device that provides superior processing speeds and renders exceptional, realistic imaging in less time than most ultrasound systems.

While the GE Voluson E910 provides spectacular imaging performance for most clinical settings, its alternatives are equally impressive in their own right. They may be a better fit for your medical practice.

The GE Voluson E8, Philips iU22, and Philips iE33 are all shared service ultrasound machines with distinct features.

Read on for a comparison of each machine’s unique clinical benefits, pros and cons, and more.

GE Voluson E10

The GE Voluson E10 sits in a class of its own when it comes to advanced imaging for OB/GYN practices. Voluson’s cutting-edge e4D technology combined with the system’s curved matrix electronic 4D probe makes the Voluson E10 one of the most highly-coveted ultrasounds for women’s healthcare.

This device allows clinicians to assess fetal health and monitor a range of complex women’s health issues with accuracy and confidence. At the same time, the GE Voluson E10 offers shared service functionality for various clinical applications, including:

• Cardiac
• MSK
• Vascular
• Urology

The GE Voluson E10 stands out from other premium ultrasound systems in its use of innovative Radiance System Architecture. This innovative technology holds 6x more data and renders 2x more processing power than previous versions.

The GE Voluson also has 4D Virtual HD imaging that displays remarkably clear, high-definition images in real-time on a large 23” LED monitor.

Additionally, clinicians can improve exam consistency using Voluson’s sono-automation technologies, including SonoIT, SonoNT, SonoRenderLive, SonoBiometry, and SonoVCAD. These features provide semi-automatic, standardized measurements for fetal anatomies, such as nuchal and intracranial translucency and fetal head progression.

The price for the GE Voluson ranges from $47,000 to $51,000.

Pros:

• B-Flow for real-time imaging of blood flow
• M-Mode and Anatomical M-Mode for accurate, real-time measurements of various echocardiographic parameters
• Multiple Doppler modes including Color, Continuous-Wave, Pulsed-Wave, and Tissue
• AutoDoppler Calculations
• Tissue Harmonic imaging improves image clarity by enhancing edge detection, so patient anatomy is clearly defined
• Speckle reduction feature improves the quality of B-Mode scanning by reducing artifacts
• Volume speckle reduction
• Tomographic
• Extended View (XTD) enables a transducer to be moved along a larger organ, stitching multiple images together to form one long image with an extremely wide field of view
• Compound imaging feature that combines sonographic information from different angles for improved image detail
• Auto Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) measurement of anterior and posterior walls for accurate carotid status
• Scan Assistant – a customizable tool that lets clinicians save scanning protocols for routine imaging exams
• DICOM 3.1 compatibility
• 3D/4D imaging modes
• Edison-Artificial Intelligence in SonoCNS for improved viewing and measurements of the fetal brain
• SlowFlow HD for better visualization of blood perfusion in small, low-velocity vessels
• RadiantFlow for detailed vascular imaging and a near-3D view of blood flow in tiny vessels

Cons:

• No Stress Echo
• No Strain and Strain Rate

GE Voluson E8

The GE Voluson E8 is an earlier model of the Voluson E10. It offers nearly the same scope of advanced features found in the Voluson E10 at a slightly friendlier price point.

Similar to the GE Voluson E10, the Voluson E8 provides exceptional imaging for OB/GYN and women’s healthcare and also has clinical applications for:

• Cardiac
• MSK
• Vascular
• Urology

Unlike the GE Voluson E10, the Voluson E8 cannot perform advanced fetal echo or elastography. It also lacks compatibility with one of GE’s most advanced transducers – the eM6c 3D/4D Volume Probe.

Other major differences between the Voluson E8 and E10 include monitor size and weight. The Voluson E8 has a 15” monitor compared to the E10’s 23” monitor. Additionally, the Voluson E8 weighs considerably less than the Voluson E10, allowing for easier transport in and out of exam rooms.

The price of the GE Voluson E8 ranges between $70,000 and $85,000.

Pros:

• Advanced 4D
• B-Flow for real-time imaging of blood flow
• M-Mode and Anatomical M-Mode for accurate, real-time measurements of various echocardiographic parameters
• Multiple Doppler modes including Color, Continuous-Wave, Pulsed-Wave, and Tissue
• AutoDoppler Calculations
• Tissue Harmonic imaging improves image clarity by enhancing edge detection, so patient anatomy is clearly defined
• Speckle reduction feature improves the quality of B-Mode scanning by reducing artifacts
• Volume speckle reduction
• Tomographic
• Extended View (XTD) enables a transducer to be moved along a larger organ, stitching multiple images together to form one long image with an extremely wide field of view
• Compound imaging feature that combines sonographic information from different angles for improved image detail
• Auto Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) measurement of anterior and posterior walls for accurate carotid status
• Scan Assistant – a customizable tool that lets clinicians save scanning protocols for routine imaging exams
• DICOM 3.1 compatibility
• 3D/4D imaging modes
• Edison-Artificial Intelligence in SonoCNS for improved viewing and measurements of the fetal brain
• SlowFlow HD for better visualization of blood perfusion in small, low-velocity vessels
• RadiantFlow for detailed vascular imaging and a near-3D view of blood flow in tiny vessels

Cons:

• No Bi-Plane Mode
• No High-Performance Transvaginal Probe
• No Steerable CW

Philips iU22

The Philips iU22 has been an industry-leading premium ultrasound machine for over a decade. It offers a wide range of advanced imaging features and produces crisp, high-definition images on a 22” OLED monitor. The console has three probe ports and an intelligent control panel that facilitates easier navigation and an intuitive workflow.

Similar to the GE Voluson E10, the Philips iU22 is a shared service ultrasound machine and offers premium 2D, 3D, and 4D imaging across multiple clinical applications, including:

• Pediatrics
• Radiology
• Cardiac
• OB/GYN
• Vascular, Musculoskeletal
• Urology
• And more

Clinicians can save time during exams using the iU22’s iScan – an advanced feature that automatically optimizes image quality at the touch of a button.

The Philips iU22 stands out from ultrasound machines of competing brands with cutting-edge features like InFocus Imaging, allowing physicians to get deeper penetration in hard-to-image patients while preserving image quality at every depth.

In addition to xMatrix single crystal probes, the Philips iU22 has a full range of transducers for crystal clear imaging, including:

• Broadband
• Volume sector
• Linear-array
• Curved linear array
• TEE
• Doppler pencil

The Philips iU22 costs between $60,000 and $90,000.

Pros:

• Strain and Strain Rate feature allows clinicians to assess myocardial function
• Strain Elastography for assessments of the liver, breast, prostate, and small lesions
• Stress Echo to evaluate heart function under stress
• Shear Wave Elastography to perform liver assessments and evaluate tissue elasticity for various traumatic and pathologic MSK cases
• Spatio-temporal Image Correlation (STIC) for automatic volume acquisition through the fetal heart
• M-Mode for accurate, real-time measurements of various echocardiographic parameters
• Multiple Doppler modes including Color, Continuous-Wave, Pulsed-Wave, and Tissue
• Tissue Harmonic imaging improves image clarity by enhancing edge detection, so patient anatomy is clearly defined
• Needle Recognition for precise needle and catheter placements
• Compound imaging feature that combines sonographic information from different angles for improved image detail
• Auto Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) measurement of anterior and posterior walls for accurate carotid status
• Speckle reduction feature improves the quality of B-Mode scanning by reducing artifacts
• DICOM 3.1 compatibility
• iCommand voice recognition with over 2300 commands so users can control their device hands-free for improved imaging flexibility
• QLAB software allows clinicians to easily expand patient diagnostic information, and with several assessment and analysis apps
• Custom Tissue Imaging lets users adjust scans to specific body types while preserving the image’s resolution
• Modality Compare feature allows clinicians to view side-by-side images from other imaging modalities during scans
• InTune Transducer Technology matches transducers to the best acoustics for each clinical use to optimize patient diagnostic exams

Cons:

• Heavier console with a larger base, making it slightly less transportable than its competitors
• No B-Flow
• No HD Live
• Fewer transducer options than its alternatives

Philips iE33

The Philips iE33 is a premium ultrasound machine with exceptional cardiac imaging performance. Like the GE Voluson E10, the Philips iE33 has multiple clinical applications for Vascular, Musculoskeletal, and Urology.

Among the Philips iE33’s various applications and tools, this ultrasound machine includes Tissue Harmonic imaging, Panoramic imaging, and quantitative stress echo.

The device is also equipped with multiple Doppler modes, including:

• Color Doppler
• Power Doppler
• Continuous-Wave (CW) Doppler
• Pulsed-Wave (PW) Doppler
• Tissue Doppler

The major difference between the Philips iE33 and Voluson E10 is that the Philips iE33 does not have 3D/4D imaging modes.

A standout feature in the Philips iE33 is its integrated dual touchscreen, providing superior navigation and workflow enhancements.

The Philips iE33 ranges between $20,000 and $30,000.

Pros:

• M-Mode for accurate, real-time measurements of various echocardiographic parameters
• PureWave single crystal transducer technology for deeper penetration and better clarity in hard-to-image patients
• Advanced XRES adaptive image processing for improved image resolution and enhanced edge definition
• Four-way articulating arm and fully adjustable control panel for a more comfortable user experience

Cons:

• No HD Live
• No B-Flow
• No STIC

What to Consider When Buying an Ultrasound Machine

If you’re purchasing an ultrasound for the first time or looking to get more value from your next purchase than the last, consider the following questions before you buy:

• Does the ultrasound machine you’re interested in have the right features for your specialty?
• Does the system have any tools that improve its ease of use and workflow?
• And lastly, is it compatible with your current healthcare software?

The Right Features For Your Specialty

You’ll get the most out of your ultrasound if it has specifically designed features for your medical specialty. For example, OB/GYN practices are increasingly seeking out ultrasound machines that have 4D Virtual and HD Live imaging.

These advanced features allow expecting parents to see high-definition video of their baby’s face while in the womb. It also helps physicians detect cleft palates and other fetal issues early.

Your new machine should also have features that match the complexity of cases you typically take on.

For example, intensive care units dealing with advanced stroke or DVT cases will benefit from an ultrasound machine with color Doppler, which allows for more detailed visualization and precise blood flow measurement through the heart and tiny vessels.

Ease of Use / Workflow Tools

Purchasing an ultrasound machine with workflow efficiency tools can help you cut down on exam times and improve the flow of patients in and out of your office.

For example, some ultrasound machines come with presets for common procedures. Presets guide clinicians through routine scans and automatically collect relevant diagnostic information, making exams faster and seamless.

Is it compatible with your healthcare software?

Ultrasound images are often stored, shared, and compared to other forms of patient diagnostic data from different imaging modalities. The most efficiently run medical practices ensure that all of their medical devices are compatible with each other and with their computer software so that the transmission of patient files is seamless and secure. Today, DICOM 3.1 is the most common software.

Why Buy From Strata?

The GE Voluson E10, GE Voluson E8, Philips iU22, and Philips iE33 are all shared service ultrasound machines with strong imaging performance across multiple medical specialties.

Clinicians requiring advanced OB/GYN imaging capabilities should consider the GE Voluson E10 or E8. The Philips iE33 is an excellent option for clinics 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 also gain access to 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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