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The device, which cost more than £25,500, makes it easier for the team to place cannulas and sheaths, allowing them to visualise the veins and blood vessels underneath the skin.
Previously, staff had to contact the vascular access team for help, or even send people home without having their procedure if no one was available.
Unit manager Niky Bradford said: “This will have a huge impact on our patients, and also on patients elsewhere in the hospital.
“It means we won’t need to contact the vascular access team, freeing them for other patients.
“We will also be able to use the machine in our lab to help with access for femoral punctures and pacemakers – previously we borrowed an ECHO machine from the heart centre, which meant it could not be used for other patients.
“We would like to thank East Kent Hospital Charity for kindly funding the machine, which will mean our patients get a better service from our team.”
Dee Neligan, head of charity, said: “We were delighted to be able to fund this important equipment and glad it will make such a difference to our patients.
“It is only possible thanks to our amazing donors and fundraisers, so we would like to say a huge thank you to them.”
