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Hi all,

I'm looking for a handheld doppler for private practice, I use the Huntleigh ones daily in the NHS but balk at paying the 450+ GBP price. Some suppliers sites are offering cheaper makes, about half that price and i'm finding these ones available via ebay direct from China for half that again. Under 100 GBP for doppler body with 8MHz probe.

I am generally of the opinion you get what you pay for and don't mind paying for quality but on the other hand i like to compare before shelling out and as Huntleigh have had the market to themselves for so long i wonder if their pricing reflects the lack of competition as much as a difference in quality.

Has anyone used another brand of hand-held doppler? The makes i'm seeing are 'Hi Bebe' and 'Hi Dop' (I think the same company) 'Sonotrax' and 'UltraTech' though i expect there are more.

Any feedback much appreciated!

Regards

 

I use an ultra tech which I bought 5 years ago from DLT. It's OK for what I use it for but it's not nearly as good as the Huntleigh dopplers.

The sound quality may have improved in that time, it may be worth asking your supplier if you can try one with a view to up grading to the Huntleigh if you're not satisfied.

The ultra tech I have is fine for listening to tri bi and monophasic pulses, but I wouldn't want to be doing an ABPI on an ischaemic limb as I don't think it is sensitive enough.

Hope this helps,

Nina

 

Thanks for the reply. Do you sometimes find it's impossible to read a patients pulses with it? I'm trying to think of an instance when i couldn't with a Huntleigh but to be honest i can't remember one when there was absolutely no sound (often full volume and next to my ear though ;)

What probe are you using? I've noticed quite a difference between the Huntleigh 8 and 10 MHz and the 8Mhz wide angle one does seem to make things easier.

Regards

 

I think mine is the basic 5MHz model, it was the only one available then. I do find there are some pulses that are impossible to find, I know they say that 10% of dorsalis pedis pulses are absent but was that on dissection of the cadaver just because the Dr couldn't feel a pulse? I just record pulse not found or something similar in my records but also note any other signs of ischaemia. I worked at our DGH for many years and know well the criteria the vasc surgeons are looking for before they'll intervene.
I've got to admit that if I was replacing mine I would go for the Huntleigh, pay the extra. My Ulta tech is much better than the first doppler I had in the 1980's but Huntleigh are in a league of their own.

Nina