iQ+ Vet Ultrasound | Butterfly
Independent machine review
Dr Camilla Edwards reviews the iQ+ Vet Ultrasound.
Read the full review, along with more about the expert behind this review below.
About Camilla...
The expert behind this independent review!
Dr Camilla Edwards, a peripatetic veterinary ultrasonographer in
Cambridge, founded FOVU First Opinion Veterinary Ultrasound in
2018 after earning her veterinary degree in 2006. Camilla's
veterinary ultrasound expertise is widely recognised through her
numerous lectures, ultrasound machine reviews, podcasts, online courses, and exclusive membership to help veterinary professionals master and confidently use ultrasound.
FOVU is a worldwide source of veterinary ultrasound expertise, with
a primary mission to educate, support, and empower veterinary
professionals in improving their ultrasound skills. FOVU’s goal is to
increase confidence in operating ultrasound machines and improve
scanning skills to diagnose patients effectively.
Butterfly iQ+ Vet Ultrasound Review
What the manufacturers say:
Next-generation Ultrasound-on-ChipTM
Power meets performance.
Innovative low-noise, low-power
consumption semiconductor process with optimised electronics with new, power-
efficient FPGA.
Patented on-chip digital micro-beamforming enabling 15% faster frame rates and 60% faster pulse repetition frequency.
Drawing from the power of the most advanced Ultrasound-on-ChipTM technology, the iQ+ delivers sharp, fast imaging that makes a difference to you and your patients.
PRICE: <£2,500K
Specifications
Standard Configurations
1 probe, 20 presets, 4 modes.
True-to-form colour flow.
1.75D array beamforming for 85% reduction in elevation beamwidth.
More Durability. Tested beyond industry standards to MIL-STD-810G.
IP67 tested. Butterfly iQ+ has been tested above industry standards and designed to protect against dust and water.
optimised for more efficient battery usage and better thermal performance.
20% longer battery life.
New Needle Viz technology.
What do I think?
This probe is a brilliant concept – using microchip technology rather than piezoelectric crystals the probe doesn’t suffer from the same limiting factors as other probes do -therefore this probe will cover a very superficial structure such as a tendon – just like a linear probe would all the way up to deep structures such as a large dog liver – like a low frequency convex probe would – all in one small probe.
The footprint is fairly wide but not as long as many linear probes I’ve seen, but this can make it awkward getting under or between ribs of smaller animals. The probe is lightweight and the battery lasts a good few hours.
Image quality did not blow me away for a machine at this price – but it is not quite up at the high quality end yet. This is however a relatively new technology and I expect improvements to continue through the regular software updates you receive as a subscriber.
While it is possible to just buy the probe and start scanning, you really need the subscription to get the full benefit of being able to store images, receive software updates etc.
The Butterfly IQ is easy to set up and use. It has a relatively intuitive design and you can quickly pick up on the few functions you need. Focal zone and frequency are adjusted as you chose the relevant preset.
I’m really looking forward to seeing where this technology leads as the idea of carrying one probe for all your needs is highly appealing.
Summary
Pros:
- Only need one probe for all depths and species
- Highly portable
- Decent battery life
- No piezoelectric crystals to worry about damaging - extremely robust
Cons:
- Touch screen makes taking precise measurements slightly harder particularly on mobile phone
iQ+ Vet Ultrasound Overall Score
My scores
Ease of settings ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Image quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Value for money ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Robustness ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Portability ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Images from the iQ+ Vet Ultrasound
Not sure what machine is right for you?
When people talk to me about ultrasound machines, they are often overwhelmed by the choice and unsure about what machine is best for their practice.
In my experience, the most important factor that everyone is looking for is the best image quality for their budget.
To ease the overwhelm, I've designed a quiz that explores your needs and budget. By answering key questions, you'll streamline your search and receive a tailored recommendation for the perfect machine that suits your practice.
