Refurbished Ultrasound for Sale in Dallas: How We Test the Probes

This page explains how our engineers test a refurbished ultrasound system, and its probes, before it leaves our Garland headquarters. The systems themselves are part of our new and refurbished medical equipment for sale.

When a Dallas practice buys a refurbished ultrasound machine, most of the value sits in the probes. The console can look perfect while a transducer has dead elements, a lifting lens or a cable that drops out when it is flexed, and those faults show up as faint stripes, shadows or noise in the image. Research summarized in a European Congress of Radiology study puts the share of defective transducers found in daily clinical use at roughly 17 to 40 percent across earlier studies. That is why our probe checks come first.

Probe checks

Visual and physical inspection

We inspect the acoustic lens for bubbles, cracks, delamination or discoloration; the housing for cracks that could let fluid in; the strain relief and cable for cuts, kinks and crush damage; and the connector pins for bends or corrosion. The AIUM transducer cleaning guideline lists the same areas for routine checks before clinical use, because a cracked housing or lens cannot be disinfected reliably.

Element test

A transducer is an array of many small elements. When some fail, the image shows a dark vertical band or a loss of detail in one part of the field. We scan with each probe and look for dropout, and where needed use a probe tester that checks the elements individually.

Phantom scan

Scanning a tissue-mimicking phantom shows whether each probe still reaches the expected depth, resolves small targets and produces even brightness across the image. It is the clearest way to compare a refurbished probe with how it should perform.

Cable flex test

We flex the cable along its length while scanning. Intermittent wiring faults often appear only when the cable bends, which is exactly what happens during a real exam.

Electrical safety

Each probe and the system receive electrical leakage testing. Internal probes, such as endocavity transducers, get particular attention because they contact mucous membranes.

System checks

• Startup and error logs: a clean boot with no recurring errors.
• Every imaging mode: B-mode, color and pulsed-wave Doppler, M-mode, and any 3D/4D or elastography options the system includes.
• Controls: the keyboard, trackball, touchscreen and every knob and key.
• Monitor: brightness, pixel faults and the arm or mount.
• Storage and export: saving to the hard drive, USB export and, where used, DICOM sending to a test destination.
• Battery and power: for portable systems, the battery's run time on a full charge.
• Software and options: the software version and licensed packages, recorded in writing.
• Stored data: the patient directory should be empty when the system arrives; check it before you sign for delivery.

Questions to ask any seller about the probes

• Which probes are included, by model and serial number, and which exams is each one for?
• Was each probe tested on a phantom or a probe tester, and can I see the results?
• Has any probe been repaired or relensed, and by whom?
• Which disinfectants is each probe compatible with, according to the manufacturer?
• Are replacement probes still available for this system if one is dropped?
• Does the warranty cover the probes as well as the console?

A seller who cannot answer these for the specific system is asking you to take the most valuable part of the purchase on trust. A probe that fails in the first month can cost a large share of what you saved by buying refurbished.

What the test report should show

You should receive a written report with each probe listed by model and serial number, the results of the checks above, the system's software version and enabled options, the electrical safety results, and the date and engineer. Reconditioned systems from us carry a 90-day warranty. If you are comparing sellers, ask each one for this level of detail for the specific unit, not a sample report.

Delivery and a hands-on demo in DFW

For in-stock systems, delivery and setup can usually be scheduled the same day across Dallas–Fort Worth. On setup day we place the system, set your facility name and presets, confirm image export to your PACS or storage, and scan alongside your sonographer or physician. You can also scan on a system at our Garland headquarters by appointment before you buy.

After the sale

Probes are the part most likely to fail, usually from drops, cable damage or harsh cleaning chemicals. Our ultrasound repair, sales and rental page covers probe repair and service plans. If you are still choosing which probes you need, see our ultrasound probe buying guide. Service requests receive a response in under 8 business hours, Monday through Friday, with same-day on-site support across Dallas–Fort Worth.

To book a scan on an available system, call (469) 767-8853 or send us a request with the exams you perform.