How we use the CUS-2000 Ultrasound Scanner

June 24, 2009

Our CUS-2000AV came in yesterday and this morning we did our first sonograms. We sold one Doe in the spring that required she be bred before she was shipped from Texas to Georgia. In May, we put a CIDR in her and two of our yearling Does. We also had a Doe come into heat in May. Today we sonogrammed all four Does and they were all successfully bred. It was a great test of our new ultrasound scanner to see how easy it was to go from the shipped package to actually using it. After unpacking it and browsing through the manual, here are the steps we took to sonogram the four Does.

• Take one of the rechargeable batteries and insert it in the back of the scanner.

• Take the AC adapter and plug it into the scanner and an outlet to let it charge.

• Take the probe and connect it to the end of the scanner

• Put the scanner in the leather carrying case (optional)

This shows the CUS-2000AV in the working case. This allows the user to carry it hands free. The probe is attached to the scanner. This is one way to use the scanner while you are doing sonograms. One hand will be holding the probe during the sonogram and the other hand will be free to hold the Doe while the screen of the scanner can easily be seen without the use of your hands.

• Preparing to use the probe.

I am left handed and use the probe in my left hand. The cable coming out of the scanner can be run behind the user and over the shoulder to keep it from getting in the way while the sonograms are being done.

Applying Gel to Probe

Another nice thing about using the working case, it frees up both hands to allow the user to apply the get to the end of the probe before starting the sonogram.

Minimum Number of Buttons to Push for Sonogramming

1. Power On - Required to turn on the scanner. The button is on the right end of the scanner, the same end that the probe is attached to. When the power is turned on, a logo will appear on the screen. Pressing the Power on button again will turn off the scanner.
2. B/7 - This button puts the scanner in the mode of showing a single sonogram image using all of the screen. This is the only mode we ever use. All of the other modes are to give vets additional functions that we never use. When this button is pushed, you should see an upside down snow cone type of picture. This will the be sonogram image.
3. Zoom/1 - IF you want to zoom in on the image and make things look bigger, this is the button to do it. There are four different levels of zoom and then it goes back to the first level.
4. Freeze - This button can be used if you are sonogramming and would like to freeze what is on the scanner screen so you can put the probe down and look at the image closer without having to continue holding the probe in the exact right place.

We feed our animals in the evening and then keep them away from anything to eat until after they have been sonogrammed the next morning. Eating causes gases in their system and will prevent successful sonograms. Water is no problem.

Collect all of the Does to be Sonogrammed

It is easier to do the sonogramming if you have all of the Does penned up together in a place away from the sunlight. The screen is easier to see away from the sunlight. We do our sonograms in the barn. Sometimes when someone is bringing some Does over to be sonogrammed, we will do them in our feed shed that is easy to remove the animals from a trailer and lead them a few feet into a darker area. The sonograms could be done in the trailer if it is enclosed enough to shade the scanner from the sunlight. Also, it is better to not continually turn equipment off and on in a short period. So when we are ready to sonogram, we turn on the scanner and leave it on until we have finished or take a break.

Secure Doe for sonogramming

We take a lead rope with a dog collar attached. We put the dog collar on the Doe and tie the lead rope to a panel where it will minimize the movement of the Doe. We do this with the Doe's right side to the panel and the left side available for doing the sonogram.

picture to come

Prepare a space to sonogram
(optional)

We have seen and used three different ways of preparing a space on the Doe for sonogramming. The spot where the probe will be placed will be approximately 2-3 inches in front of the teat on side you are sonogramming.

1. Trim the hair for a 3-4 inch square to allow the probe to make good contact to the skin.
2. Spray alcohol on the area to allow better conductivity of the probe through the hair to the skin for the sonogram.
3. Just allow the gel to make the hair be a better conductor of the probe to the skin. (this is the way we normally have done our sonograms and it has worked well for us.

picture to come

Apply Gel to the Probe

Squeeze the gel on the probe to where the end of the probe is covered with the gel. This allows the vibrations from the probe to move back and forth to the body. Sometimes we apply the gel, sonogram the Doe and then add some more gel to try sonogram again. This is helping to make sure their is good conductivity through the hair to the body.

picture to come

Pointing the Probe as you Sonogram

The probe, with the gel on the tip, is placed 2-3 inches in front of the teat on the side you are working from. Sometimes we will press the probe more firmly into the Doe to get a better reading. We do not move the tip of the probe to different points. The tip of the prob should be aimed toward the other side of the backbone. This similar to a one o'clock angle. Instead of moving the tip around, leave the tip in one place but move the probe a little up/down/left/right so the tip is scanning different areas as you are looking for signs of round black space. That would be a fluid filled sac holding the embryo(s).

picture to come

Here is a picture of a sonogram of a Doe that is pregnant

NOTICE. These pictures did not come from our scanner. We will replace these with images from our scanner next time we sonogram.

• Top picture is day 35 of pregnancy. The first thing we look for in our sonogramming is the big black round areas. This is from the fluids the embryos are in. The two arrows are pointing to two embryos. Most of the time at this stage of the pregnancy, the embryos may look like thick commas or half of a donut.

• Bottom picture is day 40 of pregnancy. Again the first thing you will notice is the big black area. If we move the scanner around and don't find any black areas, we determine the Doe is not bred. She has to have these black areas of fluid filled sacs. The bottom picture has arrows pointing to embryos. The older the embryos get, the half donut starts to open up and more of the body can be identified. Sometimes you will see movement in the embryos and occasionally you can see a heartbeat.

Here is a picture of a sonogram not showing any sign of pregnancy.

picture comming