Portable cardiac ultrasound, proven at the bedside
Parasternal to IVC: eight real echo windows captured by buyers on four Suresult phased-array handhelds, with pericardial effusion and lung views on screen. Published pricing, software included, no subscription. Every model compared so the choice takes minutes.
Quick answer
A portable cardiac ultrasound machine is a phased-array imaging system that shows the heart through the rib spaces, so a clinician can assess pump function, pericardial fluid and volume status at the bedside. Handheld phased-array probes such as the Suresult CD2, PD2 and D3Ultra now cover the parasternal, apical and subcostal windows that once needed a cart echo system.
- Phased array through the ribs: a 2.2–3.6 MHz sector head with 19–30 cm of depth
- Color, PW and M-mode on every scanner; continuous-wave Doppler on the PD2 for high valve velocities
- Lung and IVC on the same probe: B-lines and caval collapse for volume status
The echo atlas
Eight echo windows, captured by buyers on four Suresult handhelds
Unedited clinical captures · four devices, one software · select any image to enlarge
Captured by Suresult buyers on their own devices: a D3Pro clip shared by its owner on YouTube, CD2 and PD1 clips from 2026 buyer submissions, and D3Ultra captures from a dialysis unit and a German practice. On-screen headers are demo entries, not patient data.
Parasternal2 windows
Parasternal long axis on the D3Pro
The reference view: left ventricle, mitral and aortic valves and the left atrium in one plane, captured on a D3Pro and shared by its owner on YouTube. Gain and depth are set here before any other window.
Short axis with M-mode on the CD2
A parasternal short-axis sector with the M-mode trace running below it, recorded from the app on a CD2. M-mode times wall and valve motion against a scale.
Apical2 windows
Apical four-chamber on the PD1
All four chambers from the apex on the dedicated phased-array PD1, 16 cm depth, 2.2 MHz. The window for a visual ejection-fraction estimate and for comparing the two ventricles.
Apical window on the D3Ultra
An apical cine loop from a D3Ultra owner, saved as a 200-frame clip in the app. The same probe that covers abdomen and lines on other days.
Subcostal & IVC2 windows
Pericardial effusion on the D3Ultra
A large effusion around the heart in a dialysis patient, captured live on a D3Ultra at 19 cm depth. The finding that most changes management at the bedside.
Inferior vena cava on the D3Ultra
The IVC entering the right atrium, labelled on screen by a German buyer on his D3Ultra. Caval size and collapse read volume status before fluids are given.
Doppler & lung2 windows
Color Doppler on the cardiac preset
Color flow inside the sector on a D3 handheld: 2.5 MHz, 12 cm depth, PRF 5 kHz on the on-screen header. Direction and turbulence across a valve at a glance.
Lung B-lines on the D3Ultra
Vertical B-lines in a patient with acute pulmonary edema, captured on the same D3Ultra. Lung water is part of the cardiac exam on a handheld.
Select a card to switch capture
Real buyer footage: four echo windows on four Suresult handhelds, unedited.
Technique basics
How a bedside echo comes together on a handheld
- Start with a phased-array head.
Cardiac windows sit between the ribs; the small phased footprint gets through where a convex head cannot.
Phased array, 2.2–3.6 MHz - Cardiac preset, 16 cm to start.
Select the Cardiac preset and 16 cm of depth, then bring the depth up once the ventricle fills the sector.
D: 160 mm on the PD1 header - Parasternal first, then apical, then subcostal.
Long axis for gain and valves, short axis for wall motion, apical for four chambers, subcostal for effusion and the IVC.
Four windows, one probe - Add Doppler where the question needs it.
Color shows flow across a valve, pulsed-wave Doppler puts a velocity on it, M-mode times the motion; the PD2 adds continuous-wave Doppler for high-velocity jets.
Color · PW · M-mode · CW on the PD2
What the research says
The evidence for handheld cardiac ultrasound
- Ejection fraction tracked the cart machine.
In 349 patients scanned both ways, ejection fraction from a hand-held scanner differed from high-end echocardiography by a mean of 1.8%, with limits of agreement of ±8.3%. No pericardial effusion and no valve stenosis was missed.
Prinz & Voigt, J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2011 - Ten minutes at the bedside changed diagnoses.
Among 196 patients admitted to a medical department, a pocket-sized cardiac and abdominal screen of under ten minutes changed the primary diagnosis in 18.4% and added an important second diagnosis in 9.2%. The cardiac half averaged 4.3 minutes.
Mjølstad et al., Eur J Intern Med 2012 - In a cardiologist’s hands it beat the physical exam.
Of 142 patients with an abnormality on standard echocardiography, handheld ultrasound read by cardiologists identified 117 of them (82%) against 67 (47%) for physical examination, and 71% versus 31% for substantial valve disease.
Mehta et al., JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2014
Pick your model
The best portable cardiac ultrasound depends on the Doppler you need and what else the probe must do
Cardiology or ICU, with vascular accessCD2A 192-element linear head plus a 2.2/3.6 MHz phased head: echo windows and central lines on one 150 g device.
Echo + lines, one probe
$2,697 CD2 · linear + phasedBuy nowView CD2 →
Valve velocities matter to youPD2A 192-element phased array with real-time continuous-wave Doppler, so high-velocity jets across a stenotic or regurgitant valve are measured, not guessed.
CW Doppler on a handheld
$2,316 PD2 · phased + CWBuy nowView PD2 →
Echo is one exam among severalD3UltraThe three-format handheld behind much of this atlas: phased for the heart, convex for abdomen and IVC, linear for lines and lung sliding.
Three heads, one probe
$2,976 D3Ultra · three headsBuy nowView D3Ultra →Scanner comparison
Seven Suresult portable cardiac ultrasound machines, compared
Swipe to see all columns →
| Model | Price | Frequency | Depth | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD2 | $2,697 | Phased 2.2/3.6 + linear 7.5/10 MHz | 90–190 mm phased | Echo plus vascular access at 150 g |
| PD2 | $2,316 | Phased 2.2/3.6 MHz (2.8 central) | up to 240 mm phased | Continuous-wave Doppler for valve velocities |
| D3Ultra | $2,976 | Phased 3.2/5.0 + convex + linear | 90–300 mm phased | Echo, abdomen and lines on one 192-element probe |
 PD1 | $2,139 | Phased 2.5/2.8/3.6 MHz | 90–190 mm | Dedicated cardiac head at the lowest price |
 D3Pro | $2,697 | Phased 3.2/5.0 + convex + linear | 90–305 mm phased | Three formats with the 3-hour battery for long rounds |
 D3L | $2,418 | Phased 3.2/5.0 + convex + linear | 90–305 mm phased | Three formats, 80° phased sector, 3-hour battery |
 D3 | $2,232 | Phased 3.2/5.0 + convex + linear | 90–305 mm phased | Entry three-format handheld at 150 g |
Against the known brands
Suresult vs Clarius, Butterfly and GE Vscan for cardiac ultrasound
Swipe to see all columns →
| Suresult |  Clarius PA HD3 |  Butterfly iQ3 |  GE Vscan Air SL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiac imaging | Phased array on every model; CW Doppler on the PD2; three formats on the D3 family | 1–5 MHz phased, 40 cm | 1–12 MHz single crystal, cardiac preset | Sector + linear dual probe, 24 cm |
| Device price | $2,139–$2,976, published | $3,595 published | $3,899 published | $4,999 published |
| Subscription | None: software included | $595/year membership, or $2,500 one-time option | Required: $299–$420/year | Digital Tools features need a subscription |
| Landed cost | Duties + shipping included, 1–7 days | US list price; duties and shipping extra outside the US | US list price; duties and shipping extra outside the US | US list price; duties and shipping extra outside the US |
| Regulatory registrations | FDA 510(k) · ISO 13485 · EU MDR (CE) · TGA · ANVISA · Health Canada | FDA 510(k) | FDA 510(k) | FDA 510(k) |
- Eight windows, documented.Every capture in the atlas is an unedited buyer scan across four Suresult handhelds, parasternal to lung.
- No subscription, no software fees.Color Doppler, needle guides, measurements and DICOM export ship included on every scanner.
- The checkout price is the landed price.Duties and shipping included, delivered in 1–7 days.
- Registered where you practice.FDA 510(k) · ISO 13485 · EU MDR (CE) · TGA · ANVISA · Health Canada.
Clarius’s $595/year membership is $2,975 by year five, before the PA HD3 itself is paid for. Butterfly’s required plan adds $1,495–$2,100.
Three models, one decision
One conversation gets a direct recommendation: the right Suresult probe, or a straight “neither.”
Top Handheld Cardiac Ultrasound at Your Fingertips
D3Ultra
D3Ultra Convex Linear Phased Multipurpose Handheld Ultrasound
Frequency: Convex / Phased Probe 3.2/5.0MHz Linear probe 7.5/10MHz
Scanning Depth: Linear: 20-100mm, Convex & Phased: 90-300mm
Cardiology
D3Pro
D3Pro Dual-Head 3-in-1 Wireless Ultrasound Scanner
Frequency: Convex / Phased Probe 3.2/5.0MHz, Linear probe 7.5/10MHz
Scanning Depth: Convex / Phased Probe: 90-305mm, Linear Probe: 20-80mm
Cardiology
CD2
CD2 Phased Linear Dual-Head Ultrasound 192 Elements with Color Doppler
Frequency: Phased Probe 2.2/3.6MHz, Linear probe 7.5/10MHz
Scanning Depth: Phased Probe: 90-190mm, Linear Probe: 20-100mm
Cardiology
What to Consider Before Buying a Handheld Cardiac Ultrasound
Before you buy
What to check before buying a portable cardiac ultrasound machine
What is the best portable cardiac ultrasound machine?
For cardiology and intensive care, the Suresult CD2 is the strongest fit: a phased head for the echo windows and a 192-element linear head for central lines. When valve velocities matter, the PD2 adds continuous-wave Doppler. For a practice where echo is one exam among several, the D3Ultra carries phased, convex and linear heads in one probe.
Do I need a phased-array probe for cardiac ultrasound?
Yes for the parasternal and apical windows, which are imaged between the ribs. A phased array has a small footprint and a wide sector, which is what those windows need. A convex head can reach the subcostal window and the IVC, which is why the D3 family carries both.
Can a handheld ultrasound estimate ejection fraction?
A handheld gives a visual ejection-fraction estimate from the parasternal and apical windows, with M-mode and calipers on screen. A 2011 study of 349 patients found hand-held EF estimates within 2% of high-end echocardiography on average. It is a focused assessment, not a full quantitative echo.
How much does a portable cardiac ultrasound machine cost?
A Suresult phased-array handheld costs between $2,139 and $2,976, with software included and duties in the checkout price. Competing handhelds list at $3,595–$4,999 before subscription fees.
What is the real five-year cost?
Add the device price to five years of any membership fee, then add import duties if the list price is US-only. Clarius’s $595/year membership is $2,975 by year five; Butterfly’s required plan adds $1,495–$2,100. Suresult scanners carry no subscription.
Can a handheld see a pericardial effusion?
Yes. The atlas on this page includes a large effusion captured live on a D3Ultra, and in the 2011 comparison study no effusion was missed by the hand-held scanner. Effusion and tamponade physiology are core cardiac point-of-care questions.
Does the same probe do lung and IVC?
Yes. The phased head images lung B-lines and the IVC as well as the heart, and the atlas shows both on a D3Ultra. Volume status, lung water and pump function can be read in one bedside pass.
Is a handheld good enough for cardiac POCUS, or do I need a cart echo?
A handheld covers focused cardiac ultrasound: pump function, effusion, volume status and gross valve disease. A comprehensive echocardiogram with strain, full Doppler quantification or transesophageal imaging stays on a cart system.
Which handheld has continuous-wave Doppler?
The Suresult PD2. Pulsed-wave Doppler on the other models measures normal flow velocities; continuous-wave Doppler is needed for the high-velocity jets of aortic stenosis or significant regurgitation, and the PD2 carries it in real time.
Does it export cine loops and DICOM?
Yes. Every Suresult scanner saves cine loops and still frames in the app and exports as DICOM or MP4, so a bedside echo can go into the record or a teaching file without a cart.
Which Suresult model suits cardiology, intensive care or primary care?
Cardiology and intensive care with line placement: the CD2. Valve assessment with high-velocity jets: the PD2, the handheld here with continuous-wave Doppler. Mixed practice with abdomen and lung: the D3Ultra or D3Pro. Echo only on a tight budget: the PD1.
Keep learning
Reading that answers the next questions
The device-by-device ranking, including the CD2 and PD1 against Clarius, GE and Butterfly.
Read the ranking → Point-of-care ultrasound: uses, devices and trainingThe POCUS primer: where handhelds fit, and how clinics adopt them.
Read the guide → Ultrasound for critical careShock, lung and lines: the ICU side of the same probe.
See the specialty →Free Software,
Unlimited Scans
Suresult's handheld ultrasounds come with powerful software that gives you unlimited features at no extra cost. Enjoy free DICOM and pulsed wave doppler, plus a user-friendly interface on iOS, Android, and Windows—so you can focus on delivering top-quality care without any software fees.
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Improve your ultrasound workflow with our all-in-one solution. Experience precision, simplicity, and efficiency in every scan.
17+ Specialized Presets
Convex / Phased Probe
Linear Probe
27 Automated Measurements for Precise Diagnostics
Simplify your work with a complete set of tools for fast, real-time assessments.
B-Mode
- Length, area/circumference, angle, trace, distance
- Depth and angle readouts for needle and injection guidance
- Obstetric biometrics (gestational age, EFW) when your caseload needs them
B+M Mode
- Heart rate, time, distance
- Left Ventricular Internal Diameter (LVIDd, LVIDs)
- Ejection Fraction (EF), Stroke Volume (SV)
B+PW Mode
- Velocity, heart rate, S/D ratio, depth
- Automatic vessel flow measurement
- Peak Systolic Velocity (PS), End-Diastolic Velocity (ED)
- Time-Averaged Maximum Velocity (TAMAX), Time-Averaged Mean Velocity (TAMEAN)
- Pulsatility Index (PI), Resistive Index (RI)
- Vessel Diameter (DIAM), Flow (FL)
Cine Loop
Record up to 1000 frames (≈165 seconds) of continuous motion to capture every subtle detail.
Puncture Assist Function
Enjoy precise in-plane and out-of-plane guides to boost your confidence during interventions.
Flexible File Exports
Save and share your scans effortlessly in JPEG, MP4, PNG, or DICOM formats, seamlessly integrating with your workflow.
Expert Guidance
Talk to a Scanner Specialist
Tell Suresult about your daily workflow and get a personal scanner recommendation with an all-inclusive quote.
- Free scanner-fit consultation — probes, frequency and depth matched to your procedures
- All-inclusive quote — shipping, customs clearance and applicable taxes covered
- Fast delivery — ships within 24 hours, 1–7 days door to door
- No required software subscription — iOS, Android and Windows apps included
- 30-day returns and 24/7 support
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FAQ
Absolutely. Our models offer built-in calculation tools for EF estimation, IVC collapsibility, and fractional shortening to support fast, informed decisions.
Yes. Suresult includes Color and PW Doppler modes for evaluating valvular regurgitation, stenosis, and flow patterns across chambers and vessels.
Definitely. Its rapid boot-up time and portability make it ideal for code blue scenarios, allowing quick assessment of PEA, tamponade, or RV strain.
While it won’t replace a full echocardiography system for advanced quantification, handheld echoes provide over 90% agreement in most basic assessments, especially for LV function and pericardial effusion.
Yes. You can securely transfer scans to PACS or EMR systems through Wi-Fi or a wired connection with annotations.
Absolutely. Compact, battery-powered, and wireless, Suresult is ideal for EMS teams, rural clinics, or humanitarian missions, where rapid, reliable cardiac imaging is critical.