No matter how reliable or well maintained your ultrasound machine is, there will come a time that you will need a replacement part or two. And in almost every case, you can save money with a used part instead of paying top dollar for a new part. Plus you don’t have to worry about sacrificing performance or safety as long as you are buying a used part from a reputable ultrasound company that has tested and inspected it. Many companies even offer guarantees that their used ultrasound parts meet or exceed the original manufacturer’s specifications.  Some of these guarantees also include a warranty for a period of time.

The same strategy can also help you save money on used probes and printers. After all, these ultrasound accessories have incredibly long life spans, especially when they are maintained correctly. So even if you buy a probe or printer that is several years old, you can be confident of getting many more years of service from it. And what’s even better is that you’ll have saved so much money you might be able to buy two probes for the price of a single new one, or buy a better used ultrasound printer with more features than a comparably priced new one.

One of the many ultrasound models made by Mindray

In today’s economic climate, everyone is looking to save money in any way possible. If you are in the market for a pre-owned ultrasound machine, then you might want to consider a system made by a “lesser-known” manufacturer if price is an issue. When it comes to refurbished ultrasound machines you are probably familiar with names like GE, HP, Siemens, Toshiba and Philips, but there are plenty of others to choose from. In particular, you can often save money buying a used ultrasound machine that was originally manufactured by a Chinese company, like SIUI or Mindray. Even though both of those manufacturers have been around for decades, they are not as well known in the United States so prices tend to be lower, especially since models made by those companies had a lower original price to begin with.

Many years ago China had a reputation for producing lower quality products, but that doesn’t apply to its ultrasound equipment. Mindray and SIUI have more than 50 years of history combined, and both are longtime leaders in the ultrasound field in China. Only recently have the companies begun exporting their equipment outside of China, and the response from the global community has been overwhelmingly positive. Mindray and SIUI have earned strong ratings for quality, especially when you consider that their machines are often priced lower than their competitors. 

Another factor to consider when buying a pre-owned ultrasound system that was made in China is that these machines are likely to become more well known and in-demand in the years to come. So that means that you could realize a strong return on your investment down the road as it’s very possible you could resell the ultrasound machine for something very close to your original cost as demand for Chinese made ultrasound machines continues to rise.

Those early portable ultrasound machines were hardly a match for the full-size console systems, but today’s portable systems can stand toe to toe with a full-size systems and produce images that are every bit as good. Of course a 10-15 pound machine is much easier to transport than a 300-pound system, and that’s a big reason why pre-owned portable ultrasounds are so popular. The fact that the prices for used ultrasound systems have come down significantly in recent years is another big reason.

Another benefit of buying a used compact ultrasound machine is that there will always been demand for these smaller ultrasound systems, so you should have no problem finding a buyer if you ever decide to sell your machine down the road. It’s also important to note that great strides have been made in the reliability and durability of portable ultrasounds, which means that you can get many years of top performance, even if you are buying a machine that is 10 years old or more. Those are just a few of the reasons why so many people are buying refurbished portable ultrasounds.

GE LOGIQ Book XP

If you’ve made the decision to buy a pre-owned portable ultrasound machine as opposed to a console system, then you still have to decide which model is best for you. In recent years there have been many more portable ultrasound machines introduced to the marketplace, and now many of them are available as refurbished portable ultrasound machines. Some of the more popular models include the Acuson Cypress, Sonosite MicroMaxx and GE LOGIQ. Of course there are other models as well, and with the increase in supply it’s really a buyer’s market now for used portable ultrasound machines.

If you are looking for a small but powerful system, the Acuson Cypress is an excellent choice. Checking in at less than 20 pounds, this machine is very lightweight and portable, but it is also extremely versatile and can produce images just as good as a machine weighing hundreds of pounds. It features color 2D images and can be used for vascular, cardiac, pediatric, emergency room and more.

Another good choice is the Sonosite MicroMaxx, which is even smaller at less than eight pounds. With the ability to be powered up in less than 15 seconds, this machine takes portability and speed to another level. And despite its small size, it packs a big amount of toughness and is durable enough to tackle the toughest jobs out in the field.

The GE LOGIQ line of portable ultrasound systems is also a very popular choice and there are several models to pick from. GE has been a leader in the ultrasound industry for decades and their reputation for quality and reliability is unmatched. In particular, the GE LOGIQ Book XP is popular because of its exceptional power compared to some other portable machines.

GE Voluson 730 ultrasound machine

If you are looking for a powerful and versatile preowned ultrasound system, then the GE Voluson 730 should be at or near the top of your list. First of all, just having the GE name on a used ultrasound machine is a big plus because of the company’s reputation for quality, longevity and durability. That reputation, along with the incredible performance and power of the GE Voluson 730, have helped make it one of the most popular refurbished ultrasound machines on the market today. So let’s take a look at some of the other reasons why you should consider a pre-owned GE Volusion 730 ultrasound. First, this machine offers 3D static and 4D real-time imaging, and that’s something that very few other machines can claim. With a 15” high resolution monitor, you’ll be able to see crystal clear images.

Versatility is another reason that the GE Voluson 730 is so popular. From vascular to obstetrical to cardiac to breast and more, this machine can handle just about any application. If offers CrossXBeam technology to enhance tissue and border differentiation, and its Speckle Reduction Imaging (SRI) helps produce incredibly clear images.

Some of the other features that you will get with a preowned GE Voluson 730 ultrasound system include Tissue Harmonic Imaging, four active probe ports, Automatic Tissue Optimization (ATO) and Power Doppler Imaging (PDI). You will also get an intuitive user interface, digital beamformer with 512 system processing channel technology and CINE memory with the ability to hold up to 3,000 images. All that adds up to a power package of performance and power, so you really can’t go wrong by purchasing a refurbished GE Voluson 730 ultrasound machine.

If you buy a used ultrasound machine today, there’s a good chance that you’ll want to sell it sometime in the future. Maybe your business will be expanding and you’ll be looking for a newer or more powerful machine. When that time comes, it’s nice to know that you’ll be able to recoup a good portion of your original investment. Even ultrasound machines that are 10, 15 or 20 years or older can be completely refurbished to perform just like a new machine. And with the growing demand for healthcare in the future as the population ages, not to mention the increased use of ultrasound machines for fetal keepsake photos, there will always be a strong market for quality preowned ultrasound systems. That should make you feel more confident when it comes to investing your hard earned money in a used ultrasound machine.

Even an older ultrasound machine like this one can perform well for many years

If you are in the market for a used car, then you probably wouldn’t even consider a model that is 10 or 15 years old, but if you are looking for an affordable pre-owned ultrasound machine, then even machines that are a decade old or older can be smart buys. Of course the obvious benefit of buying an older used ultrasound system is that they can be had for dramatically lower prices as compared to a new model. And if you are not doing advanced or cutting-edge ultrasound scanning, then you probably don’t need one of the newest models anyway. Once you are ready to buy, read this advice for finding the best pre-owned ultrasound machine.

In contrast to a used car that is a decade old, it’s possible to refurbish a used ultrasound system and have it perform just like a new one. Reputable used ultrasound machine dealers will completely refurbish and thoroughly test the entire ultrasound system to make sure that it is performing up to the original manufacturer’s specifications.

With the money you save by purchasing an older pre-owned ultrasound machine, you’ll have more money available to put into marketing and expanding your business. Then as your business continues to grow, you can always look at buying a newer pre-owned ultrasound as your budget allows. Many businesses have been done in by purchasing too much equipment too soon and overextending their financial resources to buy the most expensive machines available. But if you are just getting started out and buying your first ultrasound system, then an older model might be the way to go.

Routine maintenance is also a factor to consider. Like anything else, there is a learning curve involved for repair technicians with the new machines, so a brand new model might cost you more to maintain or limit your options on finding qualified technicians who are familiar with that model. On the other hand, if you buy a popular pre-owned ultrasound model, then you’ll have no problem at all finding repair technicians and you’ll be able to get service at a reasonable rate.

Plus if you buy a pre-owned ultrasound system, then you’ll have a chance to examine the track record of each particular model and see how they have performed over the years. While its reasonable to assume that a new model will offer years of hassle-free performance, it’s hard to know that for sure until it’s been on the market for a while.

While it can be helpful to read online reviews, it also makes sense to actually talk to people who have experience using the particular model you are considering. You might be surprised how open other ultrasound machines owners are to telling you about their experience with their machine. If you can’t talk to another owner face to face or by phone, try sending out a few emails to owners of the models in which you are you interested. Ask them if they would recommend that pre-owned ultrasound system to others, and if they have had any major problems with it. Also ask how long they have owned the machine, and if they plan to buy the same model again in the future.

And don’t forget to ask about any repair or maintenance issues they have had with a particular model. Some models and brands have better records of reliability than others, so that’s an important question to ask and a factor to consider before making your final purchase. It will take you a little extra time to do this research, but it will surely be worth your time since buying a used ultrasound machine is such a significant purchase.

Toshiba PowerVision 8000 Ultrasound

While it might be true that GE is the world leader in ultrasound machine sales, Toshiba has made huge strides in recent years and the company is now considering the fastest-growing in the ultrasound industry. That means that buying a pre-owned Toshiba ultrasound machine is a great choice if you want an affordable system that combines world class technology with a full range of great features. Toshiba has been around since 1875 and was one of the first companies to develop the X-ray machine, so they are not exactly newcomers to the medical equipment industry and they have a long heritage built on reliability and performance. In fact, Toshiba received number one rankings for several ultrasound systems from the independent medical research firm KLAS.  Some of the best-selling preowned Toshiba ultrasound systems include the Toshiba Aplio 80, Toshiba Famio 8 and Toshiba PowerVision line.

As its name would imply, a pre-owned Toshiba PowerVision 6000 or PowerVision 8000 offers incredible power but at a surprisingly affordable price. With 256 channel digital QUAD signal processing and color Doppler, the PowerVision line can handle just about any application from vascular to cardiac to OB-GYN. If you are looking for a pre-owned all digital ultrasound system, look no further than a pre-owned Toshiba Aplio 80 ultrasound machine. With a 19” LCD monitor and unmatched image quality, this system is at the head of its class. If portability is important to you, then a pre-owned Toshiba Famio 8 ultrasound is an excellent choice. In additional being extremely portable, it’s extraordinarily versatile. Toshiba offers more than a dozen ultrasound machines, so you are sure to find a pre-owned Toshiba ultrasound system that is just right for you.