What you look for in an ultrasound machine depends upon the size of your practice, the level of your own proficiency and that of your colleagues, and what kind of diagnosis you are looking to be able to achieve.

We stock a great range of portable machines (which can be purchased with an optional trolley), because for the majority of practices in the UK, space is at a premium. The ability to move your scanner around from room to room or even between practices is invaluable.

With advances in ultrasound technology, portable systems are now able to deliver the same or better in terms of image quality and functionality as large standup systems. Some veterinarians still do look to purchase the larger ex-NHS systems, believing that by buying used human machines, they are getting better value for money. While there are some great deals out there on used machines, it's important to remember that the on-going costs of maintaining these older machines, probe replacement costs and so on (usually a minimum of £3000 + VAT per probe), are far greater than with modern systems.

In choosing your ultrasound scanner, therefore, you first need to ask yourself:

- Will I be doing cardiac work? If yes, how far do I want to develop this - are basic cardiac scans sufficient, or do I need a machine which can handle the challenges of more advanced work? Do I need colour to assist me in this?

- Do I require Doppler (the ability to measure blood flow)?

- Do I have a budget in mind? Be realistic. Establish how much you will be charging for your most common scan (usually abdominal), how many you expect to perform per week, and from this you can work out how quickly you can expect to recoup your investment. If it's going to take you 5 years to make your money back, you probably need to revise your budget. Similarly, if you're a busy practice and you're projecting 2-3 scans per day during your first 6 months, you may wish to purchase a machine which can offer superior image quality, allowing you to perform your diagnosis that much quicker. It would also be worth purchasing a machine that you and your staff can 'grow into' rather than a machine you will be wanting to upgrade only a year later.

Please call us on 0208 432 9802 to discuss your requirements and receive your own tailored proposal from one of our imaging consultants, or alternatively, click here to view some of our options online.