GE Healthcare Vingmed Ultrasound System FiVe Repair

Vingmed Ultrasound Service Manual - Rev. I – Online – System FiVe

The system's history begins with Vingmed Ultrasound A/S (Norway), a company established in 1968 that became well‑known for its Doppler and echo‑cardiology imaging development. Over time, Vingmed advanced from early Doppler flow instruments into full‑featured B‑mode and Doppler ultrasound machines. In 1998, GE Healthcare acquired the company’s ultrasound business, a move that signalled GE’s intent to strengthen its presence in echocardiography markets (Diagnostic Imaging).

Within that context, the system known as the System FiVe (often styled “System Five”) was introduced around the turn of the millennium as a high‑end console solution for cardiovascular, vascular, and general imaging applications. It combined mature digital beam‑forming technology, integrated color and spectral Doppler modes, and a cart‑mounted architecture geared for hospital‑based imaging suites. As a legacy system today, it reflects a transitional era in ultrasound where analog platforms gave way to fully‑digital processing.

As for cost, while there is no widely published new‑unit retail price, it is found that used and refurbished listings indicate the system has been offered at average market values around US $6,300 (Bimedis) in the secondary market. This cost reflects the device’s status as a legacy unit, often out of official support, and serves primarily in environments where older equipment is acceptable or refurbishment is cost critical.

The GE Vingmed Ultrasound System FiVe is a large, cart-mounted ultrasound unit featuring a 17-inch CRT monitor on top and a control panel with numerous hard keys, knobs, and a trackball centered below the screen. Multiple transducer ports are located on the front or side of the unit, and the rear panel includes video and data connections for external devices.

A product label displaying the model name “System FiVe” and manufacturer information is typically found on the back of the system’s chassis.

• System Type: Cart-based ultrasound diagnostic system (console)
• Monitor / Display: 17-inch high-resolution CRT screen
• Imaging Modes Supported: 2D, M-Mode, Anatomical M-Mode, PW Doppler, CW Doppler, Color Doppler, Color Angio, Harmonic (Coded Octave) Imaging
• Clinical Applications: Adult and pediatric cardiac, abdominal, small organs, fetal/obstetric, intra-operative, vascular
• Software Versions: Many units run Software version v1.9 (with upgrade path from versions v1.7/v1.8)
• Electrical / Mechanical Specs: Requires grounded AC power via three-conductor cable; chassis must be grounded to avoid shock hazard.
• Probe Connector Types: Supports phased, linear and curved array probes; example: linear array probes up to 192 elements.
• I/O Interfaces: External I/O board providing video (RGB/composite/S-Video), RS-232, Ethernet (Thin-Wire coax or AUI), SCSI-2 support in later boards.

Sources

1. GE Vingmed Ultrasound System FiVe – Service Manual FA091050 I
2. System FiVe User Manual for Software Version 1.9.x
3. GE Vingmed Ultrasound System FiVe product overview on MedWrench

MedWrench Equipment Page

System FiVe User Manual (PDF)

System FiVe Service Manual (PDF)

Scribd Manual Listing Page

DirectMed Imaging

National Library of Medicine