EMS ultrasound machine: what a handheld actually shows on the call
Eight prehospital windows captured on Suresult hardware, from free fluid around the liver to a pericardial effusion. Software is included on every model and the price is on the product page.
Réponse rapide
An EMS ultrasound machine is a handheld point-of-care probe a prehospital crew uses to answer four focused questions: free fluid, pericardial fluid, lung water and cardiac motion.
- A phased or convex head paired with a tablet covers all four of those prehospital questions.
- The three-format D3Ultra carries convex, linear and phased heads in one 263 g probe, so free fluid, lung and cardiac windows come off the same device.
- The CD2 and the PD1 accept a cable as well as Wi-Fi, which matters when radio traffic in the back of a truck is heavy.
- Convex depth reaches 300 mm on the C5SH, enough for the free-fluid windows on a large adult.
- Every model exports JPEG, MP4, PNG and DICOM, so the clip that changed the destination hospital travels with the patient.
The capture atlas
Eight prehospital windows captured on Suresult hardware
Unedited clinical captures · select any image to enlarge
2 windows2 windows
Pleural line at the chest wall
The bright pleural line sits under the chest wall with no aeration signal below it. This is the first landmark of any prehospital chest scan, and the reference frame a crew compares a B-line field against.
clinical reference library frame, captured at 200 mm depth, harmonic 5.0 MHz, gain 83 dB, enhancement 4
Anechoic pleural collection above the diaphragm
A dark fluid pocket sits between the chest wall and the compressed lung tissue beside it. On a dyspneic patient this is the finding that separates a chest problem from a pump problem.
clinical reference library frame, captured at 160 mm depth, harmonic 5.0 MHz, gain 86 dB2 windows2 windows
Pericardial effusion on the D3Ultra
A dark rim surrounds the heart in a dialysis patient, recorded live by the buyer who owns the probe. Pericardial fluid is one of the four findings that change a prehospital destination decision.
buyer clip captured on a D3Ultra phased head
Apical four-chamber on the PD1
All four chambers appear from the apex on the dedicated phased-array PD1. This is the window a crew uses to read cardiac motion during a rhythm check.
buyer clip returned through the TodoPocus channel, which ships the same hardware; the on-screen header reads 2.2 MHz2 windows2 windows
Free fluid between the liver and the right kidney
A dark stripe separates the liver from the right kidney in the right upper quadrant. This is the highest-yield free-fluid window in a focused abdominal scan, and the one a crew checks first.
clinical reference library frame, captured at 200 mm depth, harmonic 5.0 MHz, gain 80 dB
Free fluid around the liver edge
Anechoic fluid tracks along the liver surface through a ten-second cine loop at 20 cm of convex depth. The same window and the same gain settings answer the free-fluid question on a patient too large for a shallow preset.
clinical reference library clip, captured at 200 mm depth, harmonic 5.0 MHz, gain 80 dB2 windows2 windows
Inferior vena cava, labeled on screen
A German buyer labeled the caval window on his own D3Ultra at 3.2 MHz. Caval size and collapse read volume status before a crew commits to fluids.
captured on a D3Ultra at 160 mm depth, 3.2 MHz, gain 84 dB
Color Doppler inside the cardiac sector
Color flow fills the cardiac sector on a D3 in a pediatric patient, with the pulse repetition frequency set to 5.0 kHz. Direction and turbulence read at a glance on a screen held in one hand.
clinical reference library frame; the on-screen header reads 120 mm depth, 2.5 MHz, color gain 64, PRF 5.0 kHzSelect a card to switch capture
Technique basics
How the exam comes together, probe to report
- Choose the head before the call, not on scene.
A phased or convex head answers the prehospital questions. The three-format D3Ultra carries both plus a linear head, so a crew does not swap hardware between a chest scan and a vascular puncture.
Convex 3.2/5.0 MHz · phased 3.2/5.0 MHz - Run the free-fluid windows first.
Start in the right upper quadrant, then the left, then the pelvis and the subxiphoid view. Set convex depth to 200 mm on an adult and leave harmonic imaging on.
D: 200 mm, F: H5.0 MHz on the header - Move to the chest without changing probes.
Find the pleural line at the chest wall, then sweep down the lateral chest for fluid and vertical artifacts. The same head that read the abdomen reads the pleura.
Pleural line first, then the lateral sweep - Read the IVC, then export the clip.
Bring the caval window up before fluids are given. Freeze, save a cine loop of up to 1000 frames, then export as DICOM or MP4 so the receiving team sees what the crew saw.
Cine loop 100 to 1000 frames · JPEG, MP4, PNG, DICOM
What the research says
The evidence, three studies checked
- Prehospital FAST beat physical examination on specificity.
In 202 patients with suspected abdominal injury, prehospital focused abdominal sonography reached 93% sensitivity and 99% specificity, against 93% and 52% for physical examination at the scene. It changed prehospital therapy or management in 30% of patients.
Walcher et al., Br J Surg 2006 - A lung comet-tail sign separated heart failure from COPD on scene.
Across 218 patients with acute dyspnea in a prehospital service, the ultrasound comet-tail sign showed 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity for heart failure. Rapid NT-proBNP testing reached 92% and 89% in the same patients.
Prosen et al., Crit Care 2011 - Cardiac motion on scene predicted who reached the hospital alive.
Emergency physicians with a two-hour course scanned 42 cardiac arrest patients on scene through a single subxiphoid view. Four of 10 patients with cardiac movement survived to hospital admission, against one of 32 with cardiac standstill.
Aichinger et al., Prehosp Emerg Care 2012
Pick your model
Pick the model that fits your day
One probe for the whole callD3UltraConvex, linear and phased heads sit in one 263 g body with 192 elements and 64 channels. Free fluid at 300 mm, a cardiac sector and a linear head for puncture come off the same device.
three heads, broad POCUS
$2,976 D3Ultra · Convex Linear Phased MultipuBuy nowVoir D3Ultra →
Cardiac windows plus vascular accessCD2A 2.2/3.6 MHz phased head and a 7.5/10 MHz linear head in a 150 g probe measuring 126 x 53 x 19 mm. It accepts a cable as well as Wi-Fi, which helps in a crowded radio environment.
cable or Wi-Fi, dual head
$2,697 CD2 · Phased Linear Dual-Head UltrBuy nowView CD2 →
Free fluid and deep abdomen onlyC5SHA single convex head at 3.2/5.0 MHz reaching 90 to 300 mm, with 192 elements and 64 channels. This is the model for a service that scans abdomens and chests and leaves echo to the hospital.
300 mm depth, convex
$2,139 C5SH · 64 Channels High-Res Convex Buy nowView C5SH →Long shifts on one chargeD3ProThe same three formats as the D3Ultra on a 4200 mAh battery rated for 3 hours of continuous scanning. A 12-hour shift with several scans finishes on one charge.
3-hour battery, three heads
$2,697 D3Pro · Dual-Head 3-in-1 Wireless UlBuy nowView D3Pro →Scanner comparison
Seven Suresult handhelds for prehospital work, compared
Swipe to see all columns →
| Modèle | Prix | Fréquence | Profondeur | Meilleur pour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D3Ultra | $2,976 | Convex 3.2/5.0, linear 7.5/10, phased 3.2/5.0 MHz | Convex and phased 90 to 300 mm; linear 20/40/60/100 mm | One probe for free fluid, chest, cardiac and puncture; 263 g, 2-hour battery |
| CD2 | $2,697 | Phased 2.2/3.6, linear 7.5/10 MHz | Phased 90 to 190 mm; linear 20/40/60/100 mm | Cardiac windows plus vascular access at 150 g, with cable or Wi-Fi connection |
| C5SH | $2,139 | Convex 3.2/5.0 MHz | 90 to 300 mm, 60 degree sector | Free fluid and deep abdomen on one convex head, 192 elements |
| C5SH-Pro | $4,185 | Convex 3.2/5.0 MHz | 90 to 300 mm, 60 degree sector | The same convex coverage with 256 elements for a cleaner deep field |
 PD1 | $2,139 | Phased 2.5/2.8/3.6 MHz | 90 to 190 mm, 80 degree sector | Dedicated cardiac head at 140 g with 128 elements, cable or Wi-Fi |
| D3Pro | $2,697 | Convex 3.2/5.0, linear 7.5/10, phased 3.2/5.0 MHz | Convex and phased 90/160/220/305 mm; linear 20/40/60/80 mm | Three formats with a 4200 mAh battery rated for 3 hours of scanning |
 D3L | $2,418 | Convex 3.2/5.0, linear 7.5/10, phased 3.2/5.0 MHz | Convex and phased 90/160/220/305 mm; linear 20/40/60/80 mm | Three formats with an 80 degree phased sector and a 3-hour battery |
Against the known brands
Suresult vs Clarius PA HD3, Butterfly iQ3 and GE Vscan Air CL for EMS
Swipe to see all columns →
| Suresult | Clarius PA HD3 | Papillon iQ3 | GE Vscan Air CL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field imaging | Convex, linear and phased heads across the range, with color, PW and M-mode on every model | 1 to 5 MHz phased array only | Single transducer with presets, 1 to 12 MHz | Curved and linear arrays only, no phased array |
| Device price | Every model's price is published on its product page, with no quote required | $3,795 published | $3,899 published | Starting at $4,999 published |
| Coût des logiciels | No subscription; Suresult Software for iOS, Android and Windows is included | Essentials membership $695 per year, or $2,500 one time | Core $299 per year or Advanced $420 per year; $1,500 covers five years | Digital Tools are an add-on suite for the Vscan Air |
| Landed cost | Duties and shipping are inside the checkout price, delivered in 1 to 7 days | US list price; duties and shipping are added outside the US | US list price; duties and shipping are added outside the US | US list price; duties and shipping are added outside the US |
| Handover files | JPEG, MP4, PNG and DICOM export with cine loops of 100 to 1000 frames, stored locally | Cloud and DICOM workflow sit inside the membership | Basic DICOM is listed as available for purchase rather than included in the membership | Export and cloud workflow sit inside Digital Tools |
| App platforms | Suresult Software runs on iOS, Android and Windows, so a laptop reads the same scan as the phone | iOS 16 and Android 13 or later; no Windows client published | Compatible iPhones and Android devices; no Windows client published | Android and Apple phones and tablets; no Windows client published |
| Regulatory registrations | FDA 510(k) · ISO 13485 · EU MDR (CE) · TGA · ANVISA · Health Canada | FDA 510(k) | FDA 510(k) | FDA 510(k) |
- Eight prehospital windows on this page were captured on Suresult hardware, with the depth and frequency read off each header.
- Software for iOS, Android and Windows is included on every Suresult model, with no annual plan to renew.
- Convex and phased depth reaches 300 mm on the D3Ultra and the C5SH, which covers the free-fluid windows on a large adult.
- The CD2 and the PD1 accept a cable as well as Wi-Fi, so a scan does not depend on a clean radio environment.
- DICOM, MP4, PNG and JPEG export ship on every model, so a handover clip needs no upgrade.
- The D3Pro and the D3L carry 4200 mAh batteries rated for 3 hours of continuous scanning.
- Duties and shipping sit inside the checkout price, with delivery in 1 to 7 days.
- Every price is published on the product page, so a service can budget without a quote.
Clarius lists its Essentials membership at $695 a year, which reaches $3,475 by year five before the scanner is counted. Butterfly's Advanced plan at $420 a year reaches $2,100 over the same period. Suresult models carry no membership.
Three models, one decision
One conversation gets a direct recommendation: the right Suresult probe, or a straight “neither.”
Les meilleurs supports de diagnostic par ultrasons pour les professionnels des services médicaux d'urgence en déplacement
D3Ultra
D3Ultra Échographe portable polyvalent à phase linéaire convexe
Fréquence : Sonde convexe / phasée 3,2/5,0 MHz Sonde linéaire 7,5/10 MHz
Profondeur de balayage : Linéaire : 20-100mm, Convexe & Phasé : 90-300mm
EMS (services médicaux d'urgence)
D3Pro
D3Pro Dual-Head 3-in-1 Wireless Ultrasound Scanner
Fréquence : Sonde convexe / phasée 3,2/5,0MHz, sonde linéaire 7,5/10MHz
Profondeur de balayage : Sonde convexe / phasée : 90-305mm, Sonde linéaire : 20-80mm
EMS (services médicaux d'urgence)
CD2
CD2 Phased Linear Dual-Head Ultrasound 192 Elements avec Doppler couleur
Fréquence : Sonde phasée 2.2/3.6MHz, sonde linéaire 7.5/10MHz
Profondeur de balayage : Sonde phasée : 90-190mm, Sonde linéaire : 20-100mm
EMS (services médicaux d'urgence)
Ce qu'il faut prendre en compte avant d'acheter un appareil à ultrasons portatif pour les services médicaux d'urgence
Before you buy
Ce qu'il faut vérifier avant d'acheter
What is the best EMS ultrasound machine?
For a crew that scans abdomen, chest and heart, the Suresult D3Ultra is the strongest fit. Convex, linear and phased heads sit in one 263 g probe. A service that only needs cardiac windows and vascular access does better with the CD2. A service that only scans for free fluid does better with the C5SH.
How much does an EMS ultrasound machine cost?
Suresult publishes the price of every prehospital model on its product page, with software included and duties inside the checkout price. The PD1 is listed at $2,139 and the C5SH-Pro at $4,185. Clarius lists the PA HD3 at $3,795 plus $695 a year. Butterfly lists the iQ3 at $3,899 plus a membership. GE lists the Vscan Air CL starting at $4,999.
Can a handheld ultrasound run a FAST exam in an ambulance?
Yes. A convex or phased head covers the right upper quadrant, left upper quadrant, pelvic and subxiphoid windows. In a 2006 study of 202 patients, prehospital focused abdominal sonography reached 93% sensitivity and 99% specificity against emergency-department imaging.
Is a handheld ultrasound rugged enough for EMS work?
A Suresult handheld scans over its own Wi-Fi link with no cable running to the tablet, which removes the connector most likely to fail in the back of a truck. Each probe ships in an aluminum carrying case. Every model charges on a wireless pad, and the CD2, C5SH and PD1 also charge over USB. Suresult publishes no ingress-protection or drop rating, so a crew should treat the probe as clinical electronics.
Which probe type does a prehospital crew need?
A phased head reaches the cardiac windows between the ribs and doubles for the subxiphoid view. A convex head gives the depth needed for free fluid on a large adult. The D3Ultra and the D3Pro carry both, plus a linear head for vascular puncture.
Does an EMS handheld work without a mobile signal?
Yes. Suresult probes create their own Wi-Fi link to the tablet and store images locally on the device, so scanning does not need cellular data. Export happens later, when the crew is back in coverage.
Can paramedics use a handheld ultrasound, or does it need a physician?
Scope of practice is set by the ambulance service and the local regulator, not by the hardware. Where a service authorizes prehospital ultrasound, a paramedic runs the same focused windows a physician runs: free fluid, pericardial fluid, lung water and cardiac motion. No Suresult model restricts who holds the probe.
Can a handheld tell heart failure from COPD on scene?
Lung ultrasound helps directly. In a prehospital study of 218 patients with acute dyspnea, the comet-tail sign showed 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity for heart failure. The same phased or convex head that images the heart images the pleura.
How long does the battery last on a shift?
Suresult publishes continuous scanning times of 1.5 hours on the CD2, C5SH and PD1, 2 hours on the D3Ultra, and 3 hours on the D3Pro and D3L. A prehospital scan lasts minutes, so a 3-hour rating covers a long shift with room to spare.
Does the scan travel with the patient to hospital?
Yes. Every Suresult model saves cine loops of up to 1000 frames and exports JPEG, MP4, PNG or DICOM from the app. The clip that changed the destination decision can reach the receiving team without a cart system.
Is there a subscription on a Suresult EMS handheld?
No. Suresult Software for iOS, Android and Windows is included with the probe, and color Doppler, pulsed-wave Doppler, M-mode, measurements and DICOM export come with it. Clarius, Butterfly and GE each place software behind a paid plan.
Does a handheld replace ultrasound in the emergency department?
No. A prehospital handheld answers focused questions such as free fluid, pericardial fluid, lung water and cardiac motion. A full trauma workup, formal echocardiography and computed tomography stay in hospital.
Which Suresult model suits a single responder carrying one bag?
The PD1 at 140 g and the CD2 at 150 g are the lightest models with prehospital coverage. The PD1 carries a phased head only, and the CD2 adds a linear head for vascular access in the same body.
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FAQ
Oui, dans la plupart des régions, les champs d'application des services médicaux d'urgence autorisent l'utilisation des ultrasons, en particulier dans les services paramédicaux communautaires et les programmes de transport en soins intensifs. Vérifiez toujours les réglementations locales.
Très simple. Suresult comprend des préréglages pour différents organes, une iconographie familière et une configuration facile. Vous serez à l'aise pour scanner si vous avez une formation POCUS de base.
No. It operates offline and stores scans locally. You can also transmit images via the mobile hotspot the device offers, or export them to your system later.
Extremely. It’s dustproof and splash-resistant, and built for field use—so it can handle drops, rain, and sub-zero temps.
Yes. Doppler is highly valuable in assessing vascular flow, confirming cardiac activity in PEA arrests, evaluating DVT, and guiding vascular access.
Les appareils à ultrasons Suresult offrent une autonomie de 1,5 à 3 heures pour une charge complète. De nombreux modèles prennent également en charge le chargement sans fil, ce qui vous permet de recharger la batterie entre les examens avec un minimum de temps d'arrêt.