Adding Liver Elastography to an Existing Ultrasound System
Canon Aplio, GE Logiq, Philips EPIQ — many general ultrasound systems can be upgraded with SWE capability. Here is what is actually upgradeable, what it costs, and why a dedicated elastography system often makes more operational sense.
The Two Ways to Add Elastography to Your Practice
When an imaging centre or clinic decides to offer liver elastography, there are two approaches: add shear wave elastography capability to an existing general ultrasound system (software unlock or hardware upgrade), or install a dedicated elastography device alongside existing equipment.
Both are clinically valid. The decision depends on your equipment, your room capacity, your booking model, and who will operate the device. The economics often surprise clinics that assume the upgrade path is always cheaper.
The Scheduling Problem with General Ultrasound Upgrades
Adding SWE to a Canon Aplio or GE Logiq does not add capacity — it adds a capability to a machine that is already booked. In a busy imaging department, the general ultrasound is typically running at 70–90% capacity with abdominal, obstetric, vascular, and MSK studies. Adding liver elastography to the booking schedule competes directly with those existing referrals.
A dedicated elastography system in a separate space — or even a dedicated appointment block — does not compete with the existing schedule. It generates additional revenue from a new referral stream (GP-referred FIB-4 indeterminate patients) without displacing any existing imaging capacity.
The Operator Question
General ultrasound systems require trained sonographers to operate — accreditation, scope of practice, imaging protocol requirements. A dedicated liver elastography device such as iLivTouch is designed to be operated by trained clinical staff: a hepatology nurse, a GP practice nurse, or a clinical assistant trained in the specific protocol. This significantly reduces the staffing cost of the elastography service compared to allocating a sonographer to each elastography appointment.
Elastography Capability by System
| System | SWE Available? | Upgrade Cost | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon Aplio i-series / a-series | Yes — software unlock on compatible hardware | $8,000–$15,000 upgrade (if eligible) | Depends on original purchase config; room/scheduling conflict with general US |
| GE Logiq E10 / S8 | Yes — on higher-tier configurations | Varies by configuration; typically $10,000–$20,000 | Scheduling conflict; trained sonographer typically required |
| Philips EPIQ / Affiniti | Yes — ElastPQ/SWE on compatible models | Model dependent | General imaging device; not optimised for dedicated liver workflow |
| Siemens Acuson | Yes — on Sequoia/Juniper with SWE option | Model dependent | Enterprise-grade pricing; scheduling conflict |
| Mindray iLivTouch (dedicated) | Yes — purpose-built guided TE (Transient Elastography) | $28,000–$35,000 complete system | Dedicated elastography system — no other imaging use cases |
| FibroScan 502 Touch (VCTE) | No imaging guidance — blind VCTE only | $38,000–$45,000 + XL probe | 20–25% failure rate in BMI >30; no real-time imaging |
Upgrade eligibility depends on original hardware configuration. Contact your manufacturer rep to confirm SWE upgrade availability for your specific device serial number.
Upgrade existing ultrasound if:
- You have a compatible modern general US system
- Your SWE upgrade cost is under $12,000
- You have scheduling capacity for elastography appointments
- Sonographer availability is not a constraint
- Volume is low (<3 elastography scans per week)
Choose a dedicated system if:
- Your general US is at capacity
- You want a nurse-operated workflow
- You want a separate elastography revenue stream
- Volume is expected to exceed 5–10 scans/week
- Your patient mix is high-BMI (BMI >30)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add elastography to my existing Canon Aplio ultrasound?
Canon Aplio series ultrasound machines (Aplio i-series, Aplio a-series) can support shear wave elastography as a software unlock on compatible hardware configurations. Whether your specific Aplio model supports SWE depends on the hardware generation and which software packages were purchased at time of acquisition. Canon Medical Australia can confirm upgrade eligibility for your specific serial number. The SWE module typically adds $8,000–$15,000 to system cost if supported.
Can I add elastography to a GE Logiq ultrasound?
GE Logiq systems (Logiq E10, Logiq S8, Logiq P9) include shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) capability on higher-tier configurations. Whether your existing Logiq has SWE depends on the original purchase configuration. GE Healthcare can confirm if your specific system can be upgraded. GE's SWE implementation is clinically validated and FDA-cleared for liver fibrosis assessment.
Why would an imaging centre choose a dedicated elastography system over adding SWE to an existing ultrasound?
General ultrasound machines in busy imaging departments are typically booked for other purposes — abdominal, OB/GYN, vascular, musculoskeletal studies. Adding elastography as a capability does not add time or room capacity. A dedicated elastography system (iLivTouch) can be placed in a separate room, operated by a nurse or trained GP staff member, and run a dedicated 10-minute appointment schedule. This generates additional revenue without competing with the general ultrasound booking schedule.
Is iLivTouch only for dedicated elastography clinics?
No. iLivTouch is used in a range of settings: dedicated liver health clinics, GP practices that want to offer in-house elastography, gastroenterology rooms, and hepatology outpatient settings. Because it is a focused system optimised for liver elastography workflow, it can be operated by trained clinical staff without specialist sonography training — which is not the case for a general ultrasound used for multi-purpose imaging.
Discuss the right elastography setup for your practice
Whether you are upgrading existing equipment or adding a dedicated system, we can help you model the clinical and financial case for your specific context.
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