GE PROBES (List 3)

LOGIQ

(To know more about the probe, click on the names) 

PHASED ARRAY PROBES

• 10S
• 7S 
• 3S 
• 4S 
• 3S RS 
• M3S 
• S316 
• S317 
• S227 
• S611 

GE PROBES(List 2)

LOGIQ
 (To know more about the probe, click on the names)

4D PROBES

• GE 4DE7C
• GE 4D16L
• GE 4D3CL
• GE 4D10L
• GE 4D 8C

GE PROBES(List 1)

LOGIQ
(To know more about the probe, click on the names)

CONVEX-MICRO CONVEX PROBES

• GE 8C RS
• GE 4C RS
• GE 3C RS
• GE 8C
• GE 4C
• GE 3.5C
• GE 5C
• GE M7C
• GE E721
• GE E8C
• GE E8CS
• GE C1-5-D
• GE C4-8-D
• GE 3CRF
• GE 3CB
• GE C36
• GE C55
• GE CBF
• GE CAE
• GE C364
• GE C358
• GE C551
• GE C721
• GE 348C
• GE 548C
• GE 618E

                    DISINFECTION OF TRANSDUCERS

     Ultrasound sonography is a versatile and widely using diagnostic technique in medical field. In this method the equipment comes into direct contact with patients and practitioners, enabling it to be a potential vehicle for the spread of nosocomial infections. To avoid this we go for disinfection process.

Infection

     It is the invasion of an organism's body tissue from disease causing agents, their multiplications, and the reduction of host tissue to these organisms and the toxin they produced. It is caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, macro parasites etc.

Disinfection and Disinfectant 

     The process of destruction of  pathogenic micro organisms and their toxins or vector by direct exposure to chemical or physical agent is called disinfection.

Antimicrobial agents that are applied to non living objects to destroy micro organisms that are living on the object are called disinfectant.

Disinfection of transducers

Steps

1. Cleaning

PCI Medical's Model G14KAL Disinfection System

• All transducers must be cleaned before disinfection.
• It minimises the microbial load in the probe.
• We can use small brushes for the cleaning purpose.

2. Disinfection

• Soak the cleaned transducer in the disinfectant solution at a specific temperature for specific time.
• Rinse under tap water and dry.

     

      Only chemicals registered with Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) as high level instrument grade disinfectants for medical devices are to be used for intracavitary (Transvaginal, Transrectal, Intracavity ,wound and Transoesophageal) transducers. These include:

• Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) 0.55%
• Gluteraldehyde 2%
• Hytrogen Peroxide, used with Trophon ERP systems
• Peracetic acid, as in STERIS system
• Chlorine Dioxide, used with Tristel wipe systems

To watch ultrasound transducer disinfection process video click on the below link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyD8vc3yUn0

THE 2D SPECIALIST

Mr. Karthik Janardhanan

Karthik Janardhanan the young Biomedical Engineer stood forth passionately for developing ProbeLab, the ultrasound transducer repair firm in Kerala. He got trained in Australia in 2D repair and is one of the skilled member of probeLab service team. He had seen the possibilities and need of ultrasound transducer service firm in global market and Indian market.

About ProbeLab

ProbeLab is one of India's best ultrasound service centre located in Calicut, Kerala.  It delivers the services from a well experienced  team and offers customers easy and flexible ultrasound probe service option with the help of Australian technology. Probe logic ,the technology partner providing the technical support and training to the team members of ProbeLab which enhancing the quality of service than other firms in India.

The 2D service

When talking about the ultrasound probes there are many questions that desperately seeks answers. For example, What is mean by 2D ultrasound? What are the applications? What are the general damages happening in 2D probes? how they get repaired??
Mr. Karthik has discussed the concept of 2D ultrasound and their damages with us. He said that 2D ultrasound sonography is  applicable for all most all scanning like retinal, cardiac, abdominal etc. It is the most commonly using ultrasound technique and is less expensive compared to 3D and 4D. thus the damage happening rate is also high for 2D probes. He also said that they are getting more enquiry calls for lens replacement 2d service than other services.

To know more about 2D probe service visit http://probelab.in/ or call on 9847069684

The training experiences 

Karthik shared his training experiences, How the training helped him to improve his skills and How he become an expert in 2D probe repair. He said " The one week training in Perth, Australia taught me to analyse the problems in more professional way. It helped me to polish my skill and understand the new technologies in 2D probe repair. Before the training we were aware about the problems. But many spares were unavailable to clear it. By the training we become more familiarised with the market and came to know  where we get the spares. In short we got organized after it. 

Problems in India

What are the common issues in India in the case of ultrasound sonography? and how they are affecting the patients and the quality of our Diagnostic system? He opines that , In India the probes are not getting evaluated correctly before warranty. Many users evaluate their probes only when any physical damage appeared or any visual distortion appeared on USG image. They are actually unaware about the fact that, If we identify the problems in early stage, some of them can be repaired. For example, improper disinfection often cause delamination, which gradually leads to crystal damage. If we identified the delamination in its early stage, the probe can be repaired. Mr. KJ talk about the need of the federations like FDA to evaluate the probes at correct time in India.

Karthik's achievement 

   

Cross contamination

Hospital acquired infections are on the increase globally. In many cases ultrasound machines and transducers may act as both source and vector of nosocomial infections, because they come into direct contact with patients and practitioners during scanning procedure.

Cross contamination????

The process by which bacteria or other micro organisms are unintentionally transferred from one person or object to another, with harmful effect is called cross contamination.

The chance of cross contamination is high in certain type of ultrasound transducers. They are:

• All transducers those are likely to come into contact with broken skin
• All intracavitary transducers (transvaginal, transrectal, transoesophageal)
• All transducers used during ultrasound-guided biopsy or infiltration
• All transducers used in ultrasound-guided interventional procedures
• All transducers used within a sterile environment (such as operating theatres) 

      Based on the risk of transmission of infections, the ultrasound transducers are classified into three. They are:

Critical

• These items confer a high risk for infection if they are contaminated with any micro organism and must be sterile at the time of use.
• This includes any objects that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system, because any microbial contamination could transmit infection. 
• Example:- TEE Probes

Semi critical

• These items come into contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin.
• It should be single use or sterilized after each use.
• High-level disinfection is necessary for reprocessing.
• Example:- Endo Probes

Non critical

• These items come into contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes
• Cleaning is sufficient for this type of transducers after each individual use
• Intermediate or low-level disinfection is needed for reprocessing.

• Example :- Cardiac Probes

How to prevent cross contamination???

By taking some precautions we can avoid the risk of infection through ultrasound scan. They are:

• Proper disinfection of transducer after each use
•  Maintain a clean working environment
• Hand hygiene of clinician before and after each examination
•  Use of personal protective equipment where appropriate 

The manufactures are providing the care and maintenance guide for their transducers . The guide for GE and Philips are given below

http://www3.gehealthcare.com/static/ge-transducers/GEHC-Guidelines-Transducer_Cleaning_Disinfection_Guidelines.pdf

http://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/resources/feature-detail/ultrasound-care-and-cleaning