SonoScape launch S9 into vet market

The SonoScape S9 was first made available in beta version late in 2013. It was ready for full scale production by April, with the vet software following on behind in July.

The S9 has already proved to be a huge hit with veterinary cardiologists, both surgery based and working as mobile consultants. This is thanks to its unbeatable image quality (its closest rival in terms of image quality is the MyLab Alpha, at a least £10,000 more) and functionality. Its touch screen keyboard makes everything one-touch, as it automatically changes according to which scanning mode you have selected.

A brief comparison between the S9 and GE Vivid i

GE has traditionally been a market leader in ultrasound, and the Vivid i is a popular option for cardiologists. SonoScape has made huge progress in the last three years, however, in its cardiac scan offerings, and a comparison of the two models yields the following surprising results:

Durability

The GE Vivid i has a folding screen, which is no tougher than your everyday laptop computer. In the work environment, this design does not offer much durability, and coupled with GE’s extremely high repair costs, the Vivid i can be a risky option. In comparison, the SonoScape S9 screen is set into a 45 degree tilting platform, safely tucked away inside the system. It’s a lot easier to repair if anything ever did go wrong – but it’s also far less likely to do so.

Functionality

It’s true that the Vivid i has excellent software packages. However, none of these come as standard – every one is an additional cost. With the S9, everything comes preloaded; not only vascular, cardiac and ob/gyn software, but even 4D imaging software is installed and ready to go should you decide to equip your scanner with probes for this use. This is also great to know for if you ever sell your machine on later down the line – the end-user will not have to spend extra money on another software license.

Practicality

The fully touch screen keyboard on the S9 is extremely practical, not to mention hygienic. No more getting gel, animal hair, and no doubt bacteria between keys – simply wipe down after use. The S9 also has two probe connectors, versus only one on the Vivid i, meaning that you can switch between probes at the touch of a button. This is so much more convenient than having to exit out of scanning mode, detach one probe, and attach another, particularly in the middle of a scan!

Price

If the above features are not enough for you, consider this: a brand new S9 comes at around half the price of a GE Vivid i. It comes with a two-year warranty, and can be serviced very cost-effectively by the certified distributor in your country (for the United Kingdom, see Vet Image Solutions in London).