The Philips iE33 is a premium level cardiovascular ultrasound machine that was launched in 2004 and has been revised and improved over the past decade. In 2010 Philips launched the iE33 xMatrix, a major update that supported the brand new xMatrix transducers with thousands of elements each and capable not only of extraordinary image quality, but also viewing images in 2 planes in real time as well as 4D without the need for a mechanical probe. The Philips iE33 xMatrix also has the powerful QLAB quantification package and a host of other cardiovascular specific software enhancements that speed and add diagnostic confidence to standard cardiac and vascular exams. The Epiq 7 has replaced the iE33, but as it has over a decade of being the cardiovascular gold standard it remains one of the most popular ultrasound machines in demand. Those looking for similar power and features at the premium level who focus on OB/GYN or radiology should consider instead the Philips iU22 which looks identical to the iE33 except for one touchscreen while the iE33 has two.

Description

Overview

Application training
Our on-staff sonographer can provide onsite applications training at a set price plus travel costs.

Service for the Philips iE33
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 Recommendations
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 iE33 Dimensions & Weight
Height: (adjustable, maximum) 1626 mm (64 in), (minimum) 1397 mm (55 in)
Width: 559 mm (22.0 in)
Depth: 1092 mm (43 in)
Weight: (no Peripherals) 150 kg (331 lbs.), approx. 480 lbs with packaging

Specifications
Philips xSTREAM imageformer architecture
Up to 442,176 total digital channels (xMATRIX configuration), 57,000 total digital channels (non xMATRIX configuration)
Displayed Imaging Depth: 1 – 39 cm (transducer dependent)
Up to 180 dB system dynamic range

Electrical Power
Voltage 100V-127V, 220V-240V
Frequency 50/60 Hz
Power consumption: 750VA – 900VA depending on system configuration
Revisions
Philips iE33 revisions: A cart – C cart
Philips first launched the iE33 in 2004 as their new premium shared service ultrasound machine, replacing older units like the Sonos7500. This first version of hardware was designated an “A-cart.” This first version had dual motherboards and dual power supplies and a huge amount of problems with both. The iE33 B-cart improvements were to circuit boards, cables, power supply assembly, and USB ports. The iE33 C-cart brought a new 20” LCD monitor and articulating arm as well as new circuit boards. The R-cart is a refurbished A, B, or C-cart with hardware and software upgrades to G4.0 software.

Philips iE33: D cart – F cart
The iE33 D-cart was launched in 2007 and finally fixed the problems with the dual motherboards by using a unified motherboard. D.1 and D.2 included minor hardware updates. The iE33 E-cart made upgrades to the cart, wheels and locking mechanism. E.1 was a minor hardware & software update. E.2 added major power supply improvements to support Matrix transducers. E.3 was a minor update to the way the iE33 was manufactured. The iE33 F-cart was a major upgrade that added Type III channel boards. F.1 was a minor manufacturing update. F.2 upgraded the video card. F.3 upgraded to a new SATA DVD drive.

Philips iE33: G cart
The iE33 G-cart was launched in 2010 and is the latest version of the iE33. This revision added a new channel board and a 21” widescreen monitor. The iE33 G.1 revised the control panel and added larger touch screens. Ultrasound Supply recommends buying D-cart and up as most hardware problems with the iE33 were fixed by this revision and D-carts can be updated to the latest software

Philips iE33 Vision software updates
The software of an iE33 can be updated to a point limited by the hardware cart. Each major revision of the software was designated with the year and “Vision” in the name. “Vision 2012” was the last major release of the software. Very early A-C cart had software that was named simply “system update” with a number. System update 1.0-2.0 have almost all been upgraded over the years and system 3.0 is the lowest version still commonly found on used iE33s.
The Philips iE33 Vision 2007 software update included support for the new L15-7io intraoperative linear transducer, the X7-2 xMatrix pediatric cardiac, and C8-5 microconvex. Tissue specific presets were added to the S5-1 Purewave cardiac sector probe, and the S12-4 and S8-3 were optimized for 2D and Doppler performance. Improvements were made to LVO and QLAB. Features added were TCD (transcranial Doppler) imaging, Fetal Echo Analysis and Live 3D (4D) Echo.

The Philips iE33 Vision 2008 software update included support the new Purewave C5-1 convex transducer. Features added were TMQ (tissue motion quantification) in QLAB, Viewforum stand alone image viewing platform, improved needle visualization, and contrast capabilities.

The Philips iE33 Vision 2009 software update included support for the new S8-3t pediatric micro TEE probe which is 1/3 the size of the S7-2t. Features added were tissue aberration correction, contrast enhanced ultrasound, and SmartExam automation software.

The Vision 2010 software update on the Philips iE33 added xMatrix including support for the new Purewave xMatrix X5-1 transducer, Live xPlane imaging, and 3D Stress Echo, and support for any PACS. (R-carts can have this update, but cannot support the X5-1 transducer.) This iE33 revision also added cardiac diagnostic capabilities related to ischemic disease detection, structural heart disease assessment, as well as systolic and diastolic heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia

The Philips iE33 Vision 2011 software upgraded QLAB with CMQ-Stress replacing TMQ, and with the additions of the Auto Volume tool, GI 3DQ trending, iCrop, and Elevation compounding. Options with Vision 2011 include the xMatrix performance bundle, and Live 3D. (R-carts can have this update.)

The Vision 2012 software on the Philips iE33 adds support for Auto Doppler, Fetal Heart Navigator, and Vascular Plaque Quantification (VPQ).

Revisions of the Philips iE33
Philips iE33 (A.0) with system update 3.0 – Vision 2010 software
Philips iE33 (B.0) with system update 3.0 – Vision 2010 software
Philips iE33 (C.0) with system update 3.0 – Vision 2010 software
Philips iE33 (R.0) with Vision 2007-Vision 2011 software (limited)
Philips iE33 (D.0) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (D.1) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (D.2) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (E.0) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (E.1) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (E.2) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (E.3) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (F.0) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (F.1) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (F.2) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (F.3) with Vision 2007 – Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (G.0) with Vision 2011 or Vision 2012 software
Philips iE33 (G.1) with Vision 2011 or Vision 2012 software

Probes
Philips iE33 probes / transducers
xMATRIX X3-1 [ 1 – 3 MHz ] 2,400 elements
xMATRIX X5-1 [ 1 – 5 MHz ] 3,040 elements, PureWave
Pediatric xMATRIX X7-2 [ 2 – 7 MHz ] 2,500 elements, PureWave
xMATRIX TEE transesophegeal X 7-2t [ 2 – 7 MHz ] 2,500 elements, PureWave

TEE transesophegeal S7-2 Omni [ 2 – 7 MHz ] 65 elements, 8.64mm
Pediatric TEE transesophegeal S7-3t [ 3 – 7 MHz ] 48 elements, 7.63mm,
Pediatric TEE transesophegeal S8-3t [ 3 – 8 MHz ] 32 elements, 5.2mm shaft diagmeter, multiplane microTEE
ViewFlex Xtra catheter [ 4.5 – 8.5 MHz ] 64 elements, 120° field of view (for ICE)

PureWave cardiac sector S5-1 [ 1 – 5 MHz ] 80 elements, 20.3mm, adult cardiac sector
Pediatric cardiac sector S8-3 [ 3 – 8 MHz ] 96 elements, 15.4mm
Neonatal cardiac sector S12-4 [ 4 – 12 MHz ] 96 elements, 9.78mm

Intraoperative Linear L15-7io [ 7 – 15 MHz ] 128 elements, 23mm, perioperative
Linear L11-3 [ 3 – 11 MHz ] 288 elements, 39mm, vascular applications
Linear L9-3 [ 3 – 9 MHz ] 160 elements, 38mm, vascular applications
Linear L8-4 [ 4 – 8 MHz ] 128 elements, vascular applications

PureWave Convex C5-1 [ 1 – 5 MHz ] 160 elements, 96° field of view, Coded beamforming
Microconvex C8-5 [ 5 – 8 MHz ] 128 elements, 120° field of view, cerebrovascular applications
Microconvex C9-4 [ 4 – 9 MHz ] 192 elements, 108° field of view, abdominal

Pedoff (CW Transducer) D5cwc [ 5 MHz ] Deep venous and arterial applications, non-imaging
Pedoff (CW Transducer) D2cwc [ 2 MHz ] Adult cardiology applications, non-imaging
Pedoff (PW Transducer) D2tcd [ 2 MHz ] Transcranial Doppler applications, non-imaging

Pulse TY-306 [ 0.04 – 300 MHz ] Heartsound Pulse Contact Sensor, Cardiac and vascular

Advanced Philips iE33 transducers: Matrix Pediatric
The Philips iE33 not only offers six PureWave single crystal transducers that includes four xMatrix probes. xMatrix not only improves image quality and penetration since xMatrix is developed based on PureWave technology, but also allows for real-time scanning of multiple planes and cardiac 4D without needing a typical mechanical 4D probe. This speeds the acquisition of 4D cardiac data over a 4D mechanical probe for mainly OB/GYN. C-plane resolution is also improved over a typical 4D mechanical probe. The [ 1 – 5 MHz ] X5-1 transducer for the iE33 represents the apex of xMatrix design. The [ 1 – 3 MHz ] X3-1 and [ 2 – 7 MHz ] X7-2 are early xMatrix probes, while the [ 2 – 7 MHz ] X 7-2t is a TEE probe with xMatrix technology and represents the pinnacle of transesephegeal technology. In addition, the iE33 supports the largest number of pediatric cardiac transducers including the [ 3 – 8 MHz ] S8-3t multiplane micro TEE and four other pediatric cardiac transducers. The ViewFlex Xtra catheter developed by St. Jude Medical is also compatible with the iE33 and is used for ICE where the catheter is inserted inside the heart through the left femoral vein.

Popular Philips iE33 transducers
The most popular cardiac sector transducer for the Philips iE33 is the [ 1 – 5 MHz ] S5-1, a PureWave transducer offering better than normal image clarity even at deep penetration. The amazing X 7-2t is the most popular transesphegeal probe for the iE33 with it’s xMatrix 4D and multiplanar capabilities.

Competitors
How the Philips iE33 compares with other Philips systems
The Philips iE33 was launched in 2004 as the replacement to the Sonos 7500 and continued in production until 2015. The iE33 is a premium level ultrasound machine that was top of the line till the introduction of the Epiq line in 2013. The Epiq 7 replaced the iE33 and has a larger monitor and larger touchscreen. It also is smaller and lighter than the iE33. The HD15 sits below the iE33 in features, image quality and price and is a shared service ultrasound machine whereas the iE33 is focused only on cardiovascular applications.

Philips iE33 vs iU22
When Philips launched the iE33 it launched the iU22 at the same time and ever since, many medical professionals have wondered what the difference is, and which is best for their needs. The iE33 is focused only on cardio vascular applications where the iU22 is shared service and can be used for women’s health, general imaging as well as cardiac and vascular applications. Because of this the iU22 supports 4D transducers, and several endocaviary transducers, but no neonatal sector or pediatric TEE. The Philips iE33 and iU22 even look nearly identical; with the major distinguishing feature being dual touchscreens for navigation on the iE33 while the iU22 has only one touchscreen.

Other brands competing with the Philips iE33
The Philips iE33 is the premium cardiovascular-focused ultrasound machine of the past decade. Its closest competitor from GE would be the Vivid E9 and both systems are very similar. The iE33 has two touchscreens and a larger monitor compared to the Vivid E9 and also supports ICE in the latest release where the Vivid E9 has no ICE probe or support. The closest competitor from Siemens is the SC2000 which offers similar image quality and features but is stronger in ICE while the iE33 has better xMtrix TEE imaging.

Additional information