Now, if you find a damaged Ultrasound transducer, you may think you can fix it yourself… however, this can affect warranties etc. or further damage so please speak to our engineer directly who is ready to help you.
The most important way to look after your transducer is to handle them with care and store them correctly. ALWAYS store them in the transducer holder, and make sure there is no risk of the Ultrasound transducer falling.
The transducers are the most important component of your ultrasound system. Identifying problems quickly and putting in processes to fix or prevent these issues, will ensure longevity to your device.
Most common breaks on a Ultrasound transducer
- Cracks or breaks of the Ultrasound transducer head
- Dried-out
- Split or kinks of the cable
- Damaged Crystal in the Probe
Common causes for a damaged Ultrasound transducer are:Â
- Being dropped or hit
- Using the wrong disinfectant wipe
- Something splitting the transducer surface e.g. needle
- Cables being dragged/rolled over/wrapped too tightly
Split or kinked cable
This can cause noise, missing connections, or lines in the image. There are hundreds of small wires connecting to the crystals which helps the signal transmit and receive. Any kinks/frays will reduce the quality of this signal or which can compromise your image.
Splits, kinks and frays can be caused by:
- Cables being dragged and rolled over
- General wear and tear in the wires.
- Wrapped up too tightly
Make sure the cables are tidied up nicely and when moving the system, they are not dragging on the floor and when being stored, the cable is wrapped up loosely.
Other considerations to protect your transducers
- A protective cover over the transducer
- A safety line to avoid dropping it on the floor.
And make sure you:
- Use appropriate disinfectant wipes (check the manual)
- Store the transducers correctly
Generally, take care of the system and handle it with care. Any damage/wear that would be considered as poor care is rarely covered by any warranty.
These are the most common defects, however despite them primarily being caused by poor care, it could be a manufacturing fault.
In honesty, we rarely see these issues, but when they have come into the department, poor care has been the most common cause.
Although, we have had an experience where the transducer is fine, so it could be the transducer port or main circuit board, so it is always worth letting us know if you have an issue!
NOTE – Be wary of purchasing second-hand units!
If you buy an ex-demo system from Physiquipe, the likelihood is that it is less than 12 months old and has only been used by us. All our systems are fully serviced and checked and come with a limited warranty and often the transducers we provide will be new.
We cannot comment for other companies, but most you would expect the same, but do check!
Be very careful if you are buying a second-hand system that IS NOT from a known supplier e.g. another clinician. There is more risk on this as you don’t know how the transducers have been kept and their condition, or if the system has been serviced so if something breaks you could be looking at a big bill!
To find out more in our other blog about whether to buy new, used or reconditioned ultrasound.
The best recommendation we can give you for looking after your transducers is be careful and look after them and they will look after you.
If you notice any issues, contact us immediately as the sooner we know about it, the better!
Find out more about types of transducers click here.
Any issue with your ultrasound – contact our servicing department here.