I'll be traveling from the USA to Africa. Can I carry my portable ultrasound machine in checked baggage or will it need to be in my carry on due to the battery type? The battery marked under Rating on the machine. 11.1V 2000mAh 22.2Wh
I'm using this exact machine: https://valuestore.us/product/veterinary-ultrasound-scanner-v16-with-7-5-mhz-rectal-probe-3-5-mhz-convex-probe
ValueStore does not appear to publish the exact specifications of its batteries, but perhaps you can inspect yours to see if its capacity is printed anywhere on it.
According to the FAA, lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of less than 100 Wh are allowed in your carry-on luggage. Probably your battery is indeed less than this capacity, but it is wise to check. Batteries between 100 and 160 Wh may also be allowed at the airline's discretion, so if you discover that your battery is in this range, you should contact your airline for further advice.
The policies for batteries in your checked luggage are stricter than those for carry-ons; in particular, you may not check any spare batteries, only batteries contained within devices. If you would prefer anyway to carry-on your device, you should definitely do so in order not to have to worry about these stricter policies. Review the FAA guidance linked above for further details.
Note that if your itinerary involves a connection, you will additionally have to comply with the aviation security policies of your onward travel. While most countries around the world have adopted broadly similar policies for lithium-ion batteries, if your battery is pushing the limits of the US policy, it would be still good to check to make sure you comply with all other relevant policies.
