6 Standards to Insist Upon for Every Ultrasound Probe Repair
6 Standards to Insist Upon for Every Ultrasound Probe Repair
Probe repairs should not just fix the issue at hand, they should actually extend the life of your device. The key to getting more life out of each probe is understanding what goes into a sustainable, long-term repair vs. a short-term fix, and knowing the criteria you should be discussing with each provider to really […]
Leakage Test Failures
Did you know? Just because your leakage meter reports a test failure, it doesn’t mean that the probe is at fault. Leakage test failures can be confusing. This post will help you and your end-users understand just what’s going on with leakage test failures and how to troubleshoot several scenarios. TEE probe leakage testing The […]
Test Your Ultrasound IQ
Each week, our team provides tech support to dozens of Innovatus clients. We thought that we’d share one scenario that provides a strong foundation of troubleshooting common ultrasound issues. Let’s test your ultrasound IQ. A client exchanged their ultrasound probe (Probe 1), 2-months earlier. According to an echo-tech, Probe 1 had performed perfectly and provided […]
Inside Outlooks: What’s really going on inside your ultrasound probe
When we think about ultrasound probes, we often focus on the parts we can see and touch—the lens, the cable, the connector. But, what about the components hidden inside the scan head? These internal electronics are quietly doing some of the most critical work in medical imaging—and they deserve a closer look. Let’s see what’s […]
Crystal Clear
What Every Biomed Should Know About Ultrasound Probe Arrays As an HTM professional, you’re constantly troubleshooting equipment. But what happens when an ultrasound probe isn’t producing clear images—despite looking perfectly fine on the outside? The answer often lies in one of the most fragile, misunderstood, and essential components: the acoustic array. After reading this, things […]
Harness the Power: Why cable failures may be the problem
The, Hidden, Weak Link in Ultrasound Probes When we think about ultrasound probe failures, the acoustic array often takes center stage. But right behind it—often overlooked—is the wiring harness and cable jacket. These components are critical to performance and reliability, yet they’re subjected to constant stress: continued flexing, accidental pulling, pinching, and even being rolled over. […]
“Good Enough” Repairs Put HTM in an Unfair Position
“Good Enough” Repairs Put HTM in an Unfair Position. By the time an ultrasound probe reaches the Clinical Engineering or HTM department for repair evaluation, there is already pressure in the room. Budgets are tight. Clinicians want the probe back yesterday. Administrators want the lowest possible cost. That’s how “good enough” repairs became normalized. But […]
Taking a closer look: Micro-damage
It can be frustrating to HTM teams, and end-users, to learn that their ultrasound probe, that was only sent in to address a damaged strain relief, may require a more invasive repair. Two of the most-common failures with ultrasound probes are intermittent or broken wires in the cable harness and damaged acoustic elements in the array. […]
Specialists versus Generalists
Lately, every week, it seems as though one Independent Service Organization (ISO) is acquiring another. The goal may be financial gain for their investors, or an attempt to become a one-stop-shop for their customers. Maybe, and most-likely, both. As convenient as a one-stop-shop could be, it makes the most sense to follow the lead of […]
How to perform TEE probe leakage testing
TEE probe leakage testing has been around for about 30 years. Surprisingly, it’s something that, currently, is still misunderstood by many biomeds, imaging service engineers, even those routinely performing the tests. Believe it or not, TEE probe leakage testing is still not ROUTINELY performed in some healthcare facilities. As such, we thought that it would be a […]
