iQ+ Technical Details

The Abdomen preset uses harmonic frequencies in a curvilinear format to support the clinical assessment of structures the size and morphology of abdominal organs, such as the liver and kidney, with an elevation span of 80 degrees to a depth of 25cm. It is also used for abdominal procedures, such as paracentesis or ECMO lines in the IVC.

Abdomen Deep uses the fundamental low frequencies required to provide the depth of penetration necessary for abdominal assessments of up to 30cm. This curvilinear preset is typically reserved for technically challenging patients, such as high BMI or those with highly attenuating livers, as in hepatitis.

Aorta/Gallbladder uses imaging parameters which allow high-contrast imaging for these specific abdominal structures to a depth of 20cm. This is designed for optimal delineation of borders, and so is best applied in the investigations of AAA, CBD, gallbladder disease, cholelithiasis, and pericholecystic fluid—common investigations in primary care and the emergency room.

The Bladder preset has been optimized for the contrast and detail required for bladder assessment. The Field of View (FOV) is expanded to 120 degrees to enable broader visualization of the bladder to a depth up to 20cm. This curvilinear preset includes the application of fundamental imaging for high resolution imaging. It provides the penetration necessary for visualization of the entire bladder, and the contrast resolution required to demonstrate the bladder wall with confidence. This preset is best applied for the investigation of urinary retention, bladder wall health, urethral valve patency and prostate size.

The Cardiac preset operates with a high-frame-rate phased array, and uses fundamental frequencies to allow reliable real-time echocardiographic interrogation of cardiac anatomy. This preset penetrates to 25cm, and is used actively by many bedside specialty clinicians in a diverse array of clinical environments such as the ED, ICU, Cardiology office and for peri-operative assessment in the PACU for global heart health assessment. It can also be used for thoracic procedures, such as pericardiocentesis. 

The Cardiac Deep preset, located in the Cardiac preset, has an alternate optimization developed to provide imaging flexibility in assessment of different patient types. It uses a lower transmit frequency with harmonics to offer a different look. With its high frame rate, it offers reliable real-time echocardiographic interrogation up to 25cm.

Coherence Imaging, located in the Cardiac preset, enhances the image by removing unmodeled acoustic reverberation and aberration (typically known as “clutter”) and improving contrast resolution for support of binary decision-making.

The FAST preset has been optimised for performance of the FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) examination, which assists the clinician to identify free intraperitoneal or pericardial fluid in blunt trauma patients. It is a cornerstone of point-of-care ultrasound in both Emergency Medicine and EMS. The preset penetrates to 25cm, and is a combination of technical characteristics that provide high frame rate for cardiac imaging (typically the subxiphoid view) yet high detail for interrogation of the deep pelvis and abdomen.

The Lung preset is designed to support clinician investigation of respiratory distress, the Lung preset has been optimized for demonstration and sliding of the pleural surface, as well as A-line and B-lines throughout the 15cm field. The preset transforms from a curvilinear array to a linear array when the depth is reduced to 6cm or less. This optimizes near-field lung sliding dynamics as well as pleural artifacts. Offers M-mode.

The Lung Tissue preset, located in the Lung preset is designed to support investigations of lung hepatization or lung consolidation. With a max depth of 15cm and application of low harmonic frequencies in a curvilinear format, this setting has been optimized for enhanced visualization in the far field.

MSK-Soft Tissue has been developed with high dynamic range for optimized detail resolution of soft tissue structures, such as intramuscular assessment. It is commonly used by advanced users of MSK point-of-care ultrasound looking for detailed anatomical assessment. The preset penetrates from a minimum depth of 1cm to a maximum of 12cm. The user will notice the preset automatically translates from linear to trapezoidal format (4cm), and then to curvilinear (9cm) to support superficial trigger finger assessments through to deep inguinal hernia and hip-joint interrogation and needle guidance. It is also a popular preset applied by board-certified plastic surgeons in the investigation of symptomatic breast implant studies.

Musculoskeletal is a partner preset for MSK-Soft Tissue. It has been developed with a focus on contrast resolution to highlight crisp borders between structures, and needles with “pop”. It tends to be preferred by those users performing interventions, as well as for diagnostic procedures requiring crisp border detection such as in DDH, as well as rheumatology. The preset penetrates from a minimum depth of 1cm to a maximum of 12cm, and automatically translates from linear to trapezoidal format (4cm), and then to curvilinear (9cm). As a result, the Musculoskeletal preset can support inspection/injection of the peripheral joints as well as support the depth of penetration necessary for hip joint, and even epidurals.

The Nerve preset has been developed in collaboration with regional and peri-operative anesthesiologists. It is a high-frequency linear imaging format optimized for interrogation of the peripheral nerves, to a depth of 8cm. It has been developed to show contrast between the nerve bundle, distinct from surrounding structures and yet maintain the detail resolution required to demonstrate the typical “honeycomb” appearance of individual nerve fascicles.

The OB 1/GYN preset is a dedicated curvilinear obstetric preset for in-utero assessment of pregnancy and gynaecological patients to a depth of 25cm. The preset has been optimised for first trimester pregnancy studies and is particularly popular in Labour & Delivery, obstetric, and resource-limited settings.

The OB 2/3 preset is a dedicated curvilinear obstetric preset for in-utero assessment of pregnancy and gynaecological patients to a depth of 25cm. The preset has been optimised for second and third trimester pregnancy studies and is particularly popular in Labour & Delivery, obstetric, and resource-limited settings.

The Ophthalmic preset has been carefully developed with the appropriate Thermal Index (TI) and Mechanical Index (MI) operating scope for point-of-care ultrasound examinations of the eye. This typically involves looking at structural integrity of the orbit, foreign bodies as well as optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). It is a linear preset, depth range to 5cm.

The Paediatric Abdomen preset uses harmonic frequencies in a curvilinear format to support the clinical assessment of the size and morphology of abdominal organs, such as the liver and kidney. This preset uses a higher frequency and can penetrate as deep as 15cm, optimised for paediatric assessment.

The Pediatric Cardiac preset operates with a high-frame-rate phased array configuration to allow reliable real-time echocardiographic interrogation of cardiac anatomy. This preset penetrates to 15cm and is optimized for pediatric patients, including higher frequencies than its adult-companion preset.

The Paediatric Lung preset has been optimised for demonstration of the pleural surface and lung sliding in the foreground, as well as A-line and B-lines throughout the 7cm field. It is a preset popular for the detection of pulmonary consolidation associated with paediatric pneumonia, and is one of the highest-used presets by our Global Health NGO partners.

The Small Organ preset has been optimised for the investigation of small soft tissue structures such as the thyroid, parotid gland, lymph nodes and testes in a linear format to a depth of 6cm. It can be used for both the qualitative and quantitative assessment of organ size, morphology and vascularity. Examples of the latter include: assessment of testicular torsion as well as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

The Vascular: Access preset is one of our highest frequency presets. It has been designed to meet the high-contrast, high-resolution demands of ultrasound-guided venipunctures and arterial access procedures, with a linear format. It optimizes imaging from a minimum of 1cm through to 5cm, and has a low grey-scale appearance to “pop out” both the vasculature, as well as the needle/catheter path, and tip.

The Vascular: Carotid preset has been designed to meet the high-contrast, high-resolution demands of assessment of the carotid arteries, for peripheral arterial disease. It has been designed to support the identification of plaque, hemodynamic disturbance and stroke screening. It optimizes imaging to 6cm, to accommodate a range of patient types. The preset has been optimized with a relatively low grey-scale appearance to “pop out” intimal boundaries. A great video to help get you started can be found here.

The Vascular: Deep Vein preset has been designed to meet the high-contrast, high-resolution demands of assessment of the peripheral deep veins. It has been designed to support the identification of thrombosis by supporting frame rates that accommodate the typical compression maneuvers, the contrast resolution to support the demonstration of the thrombus itself, as well as support to 8cm. The preset has been optimised with a relatively low grey-scale appearance to “pop out” intimal boundaries.

The Vascular: Face preset has been designed to meet the high-contrast, high-resolution demands of imaging the small facial vessels with slow hemodynamic flow, to support ultrasound-guided facial cosmetic procedures. This linear preset offers optimized imaging from a minimum of 1cm to a maximum depth of 4cm, and has a low grey-scale appearance with an emphasis on ready identification of facial vascular anatomy. B-Mode, Color Doppler, Power Doppler, and the Midline Tool are enabled in this preset.