The Philips ClearVue 550, is an economy priced shared service ultrasound machine that’s strengths are good image quality and workflow efficiency. The ClearVue 550 was launched in 2012 as the replacement for the HD7xe and is positioned in between the ClearVue 350, which has no articulating arm, and the ClearVue 650, which offers more standard features such as 4D which are options on the ClearVue 550. The ClearVue 550 excels at obstetrics, gynecology, abdominal imaging and radiology where it’s workflow advantages speed up common exams. The Philips ClearVue 550 also has the best cardiovascular imaging available in the world at this price point.

Description

Overview

Application Training for Philips ClearVue 550
Our on-staff sonographer can provide onsite applications training for the ClearVue 550 at a set price plus travel costs.

Service for ClearVue 550
Free technical support is available during installation and over the course of the standard limited warranty. Technical support is available after the warranty period at an hourly cost per issue.

Maintenance for Philips ClearVue 550
Ultrasound Supply recommends the use of a surge protector along with a dedicated power outlet. Probes should be disinfected after every use with a disinfectant wipe proven not to damage the lens .

Philips ClearVue 550 Dimensions & Weight
Height: (adjustable, maximum) 1160 mm (45.7 in)
Width: 520 mm (20.5 in)
Depth: 584 mm (23.0 in)
Control panel height: (non-adjustable) 837 mm (33.0 in)
Weight: (with printer) 52 kg (115 lbs.), approx. 200 lbs. with packaging

Philips ClearVue 550 Specifications
All-digital broadband beamformer
65,536 digitally-processed channels
Depth to 30 cm (exam and transducer specific)
Up to 272 dB Dynamic Range

Philips ClearVue 550 Electrical Power
Voltage: 100 to 240 VAC
Frequency: 50 to 60 Hz
Power: 450VA
Power consumed: 300VA
Heat dissipation: <700 BTUs/hour (fully loaded)
Revisions
Philips ClearVue 550 revisions
Philips first launched the ClearVue 550 in 2012 as version 1.0. The 2.0 update made image quality updates and bug fixes. The 3.0 update added the L12-5 38 linear transducer and upgraded the monitor from 17” to 19”. Version 3.1 added support for the V6-2 4D convex and 3D9-3v 4D endovaginal probes, and added optional 3D fetal echo STIC, strain-based elastography, FloVue, QLAB GI 3DQ, QLAB IMT, Stress, and standard Auto Face Reveal.

Revisions of the Philips ClearVue 550
Philips ClearVue 550 (Rev 1.0)
Philips ClearVue 550 (Rev 2.0)
Philips ClearVue 550 (Rev 3.0)
Philips ClearVue 550 (Rev 3.1)

Common configurations of the ClearVue 550
Philips ClearVue 550 with 3 transducers
This is a General imaging (GI) and Women’s health configuration

C5-2 Convex

C9-3v Endovaginal

L12-4 Linear

Philips ClearVue 550 with 2 transducers
This is a Cardio/Vascular configuration

S4-1 Cardiac Sector

L12-4 Linear

Probes
Philips ClearVue 550 probes / transducers
Convex C5-2 [ 2 – 5 MHz ]
4D convex V6-2 [ 2 – 6 MHz ] 55mmR, 66° field of view

Endocavitary C9-4v [ 4 – 9 MHz ] End-fire sector, 11mmR, 180° field of view
4D Endocavitary 3D9-3v [ 3 – 9 MHz ] 11.5mmR, 150° field of view

Linear L12-4 [ 4 – 12 MHz ] 21° of trapezoidal imaging
Linear L12-5 38 [ 5 – 12 MHz ] 192 elements,

Cardiac sector S4-1 [ 1 – 4 MHz ]
Pedoff (CW Transducer) D2cwc [ 2 MHz ] Adult cardiology applications, non-imaging

Advanced Philips ClearVue 550 transducers: 4D
Version 3.0 of the Philips ClearVue 550 (released in 2015) supports two new 4D transducers; the [ 2 – 6 MHz ] V6-2 4D convex is useful not only for creating a 3D baby face image, but more importantly to speed up routine OB/GYN exams by allowing for an entire exam’s worth of 2D images in multiple planes and slices to be captured in a few seconds. The [ 3 – 9 MHz ] 3D9-3v 4D endovaginal transducer also speeds scanning time which reduces patient discomfort but more importantly the 4D endovaginal probe can capture the C-plane of the uterus, something a 2D probe cannot do. This allows for diagnostic certainty in evaluation of a cervical cerclage, placement of an IUD, or a bicornuate uterus where there is a question of only otherwise available through CT or MRI!

Popular ClearVue 550 transducers
The [ 2 – 5 MHz ] C5-2 is the most popular convex transducer for the ClearVue 550, followed by the S4-1 [ 1 – 4 MHz ] adult cardiac sector probe and the [ 4 – 12 MHz ] L12-4 linear transducer.

Competitors
ClearVue 550 comparison with other Philips systems
The Philips ClearVue 550 was launched in 2012 as the modular, next generation replacement for the HD series ultrasound machines, specifically the popular HD7xe. The ClearVue 550 is much more compact and light, and has a larger monitor compared to the HD7 and HD7xe. Though transducer selection is more limited than the HD7xe, the ClearVue 550 now offers 4D and several advanced features such as blood flow in gray scale imaging and stress echo that were never available on the HD7xe. The ClearVue 650 and ClearVue 850 are positioned above the premium economy-level 550 in price and features. The lower cost HD5 is positioned below the Philips ClearVue 550 in price and features.

Philips ClearVue 550 vs ClearVue 350
The Philips ClearVue 550 and the ClearVue 350 were launched at the same time and at the beginning there were features and image quality differences between the early revisions, but as of version 3.1 the only differences are that the 350 does not have the standard articulating arm that the ClearVue550. The two are visually identical except for the monitor arm.

Other brands competing with the ClearVue 550
The closest competitor to the Philips ClearVue 550 from GE would be the Logiq P5 PE which has a very different set of benefits. The ClearVue 550’s strengths are it’s intuitive workflow and design including a larger monitor and image quality supported by technology that has migrated from more expensive Philips units, and cost-effectiveness as an entry-level system. Meanwhile the Logiq P5 has a much broader selection of transducers than the ClearVue 550, allowing it to function in many specialty applications. The closest competitor to the ClearVue 550 from Siemens is the X300 PE, which is more expensive, but like the Logiq P5 offers a broader set of transducers and features than the ClearVue 550. The 550 meanwhile has better greyscale image quality due to newer speckle reduction and image compounding, but the X300 PE has better Doppler sensitivity and access to TEE and ICE transducers. The Samsung R7 is another competitor though the R7 only competes in women’s health and general imaging unlike the ClearVue 550, which is a true shared-service ultrasound machine. The R7 is less expensive than the 550 but has the same monitor size and articulating arm. For scanning effeciency in the most common exams the ClearVue 550 is superior to all competitors, but it is not the best choice for less common specialty imaging situations.

Additional information

Year Launched
2012

Estimated Market Price
Economy

Monitor
19″(17″) LCD

Tilt/Rotate Adjustable Monitor
Yes

Monitor Resolution
1280*1024

Image Size Resolution

Touch Screen
No

Trackball or Trackpad
Trackball

CP Back-Lighting
Yes

Weight
115 lbs(52kg)

Probe Ports
4

Battery
No

Boot-Up Time

Sleep Mode
No

Maximum Depth of Field
30cm

Minimum Depth of Field

Cart
No

Independent Steer & Lockable Wheels
Yes

2D, M mode
Yes

M-color Flow Mode
Yes

Anatomical M-mode
Yes

Trapezoidal Mode
Yes

Color, Power Angio, Pulse Wave Doppler
Yes

Bi-directional Power
Yes

SCW Doppler
Yes

Tissue Doppler(Velocity) Imaging
No

Freehand 3D
Yes

Live 3/4D OB/GYN
No

HD Live
No

STIC
No

Live 3D Echo
No

Stress Echo
No

Strain and Strain Rate
No

B Flow
No

Panoramic Imaging
Yes

Contrast Imaging-Cardiac
No

Contrast Imaging – General Imaging
No

Strain-based Elastography
No

Shear Wave Elastography
No

Tissue Harmonic Imaging
Yes

Spatial Compounding(=CrossXbeam)
Yes

Speckle Reduction (=SRI)
Yes

Auto Image Opt(B mode)
Yes

Auto Image Opt(Doppler)
Yes

Write Zoom
Yes

Triplex Mode
Yes

Needle Enhancement or Needle Recognition
No

Auto NT Measurement
Yes

Auto Follicle 2D Measurement
No

Auto Follicle 3D Measurement
No

Auto IMT
No

Auto IMT (Real Time)
No

Automated B/M/D Measurement
No

Automated LH Measurement(Automated Function Imaging(AFI), Cardiac Motion Quantification(CMQ), or Auto EF(Ejection Fraction)
No

Live Dual (B/BC) Mode
Yes

SmartExam or Scan Assistant
Yes

Fusion
No

Raw Data File
No

Flexible Report
Yes

Barcode Reader
Yes

Gel Warmer
No

Abdominal
Yes

Women’s Health Care
Yes

OB
Yes

Fetal Echo
Yes(Option)

Vascular
Yes

TCD(Transcranial)
Yes

Small Parts
Yes

MSK/Anesthesiology
Yes

Pediatrics
Yes

Urology
Yes

Echocardiography_Adult
Yes

Interventional Cardiology
No

Echocardiography_Pediatric
Yes

Echocardiography_Neonate
No

Stress Echocardiography
No

Transesophageal Echo_Adult
No

Transesophageal Echo_Pediatric
No

Internal Medicine w/ Shared Service
Yes

Surgury
No

Interventional Radiology
No

Contrast Imaging_General Imaging
No

Contrast Imaging_Cardiac
No

Bowel Imaging
No

Strain Elastography
No

Shear Wave Elastography
No

Convex (1~6Mhz)
Yes(C5-2)

Convex (2~9Mhz)
No

Single Crystal Convex (1~6Mhz)
No

Single Crystal Convex (2~9Mhz)
No

Single Crystal Micro Convex
No

2D Arrary 3D Convex
No

Micro Convex (5~8Mhz)
No

Single Crystal Endocavity_Straight Type
No

Endocavity_Curved Type
Yes(C9-4v)

BiPlane Endo Rectal
No

Biplane Micro Convex (3~10MHz)

3D Convex
Option(V6-2)

3D Convex Light Weight
No

3D Endocavity
Option(3D9-3v)

3D Micro Convex
No

3D Linear
No

Linear (>14Mhz)
No

Linear (3~12Mhz)
Yes(L12-4/L12-5)

Linear (<9Mhz)
No

Single Crystal Linear
No

Single Crystal Linear (3~12Mhz)
No

Single Crystal Linear (<9Mhz)
No

Linear 50mm
No

Linear 25mm
No

Hockey stick (<13Mhz)
No

Hockey stick (>13Mhz)
No

T or L shape Intra Operative
No

Laparoscopic
No

Phased Array_Adult
Yes(S4-1)

Single Crystal Phased Array_Adult
No

2D Arrary 3D Phased Array
No

Phased Array_Pediatric
No

Single Crystal Phased Array_Pediatric
No

Phased Array_Neonate
No

ICE
No

TEE_Adult
No

TEE_Pediatric
No

2D Array 3D TEE
No

Pencil CW (2Mhz)
Yes(D2cwc)

Pencil CW (5 or 6Mhz)
No

DICOM 3.0
Yes

DICOM SR_Cardiac
Yes

DICOM SR_Vascular
Yes

DICOM SR_OB/GYN
Yes

JPEG, WMV, & AVI
Yes

USB
Yes(3)

HDD/SDD
320GB

DVD/CD RW
Yes

Wireless LAN
No