Some very clever pHD students at the Imperial College in London UK are making an ultrasound machine so small it will fit on a single chip. Their existing prototype is the size of a pen.
What they are hoping to accomplish is to create an ultrasound machine so small that a patient can actually swallow it. The prospects for this kind of miniaturization are quite mind-boggling. It is imagined that the machine would travel down the entire digestive tract and scan the entire body as it goes along.
The amount of actionable medical information the tiny ultrasound machine would collect is truly amazing and it would be far less expensive than present-day, multi-million dollar health scanners, such as MRI machines and CAT scanners.
The benefits to the patient would inexpensive, highly detailed health information and that is not such bitter pill to swallow.
Digestible Ultrasound Devices
These Students are Creating a Chip for Imaging That Can Be Swallowed
Trend Themes
1. Miniaturized Ultrasound - Creating ultrasound machines so small they can be swallowed presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the healthcare industry, allowing for inexpensive and detailed health information.
2. Digestible Imaging Devices - Developing digestible imaging devices opens up possibilities for non-invasive and comprehensive body scans, disrupting the medical imaging industry.
3. Portable Medical Diagnostics - Advancements in portable medical diagnostics, such as swallowable ultrasound machines, have the potential to revolutionize healthcare by providing easy access to detailed health information.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - The healthcare industry can benefit from the disruptive innovation opportunities presented by miniaturized ultrasound and digestible imaging devices, allowing for improved diagnostics and cost-effective solutions.
2. Medical Imaging - The medical imaging industry has the potential to be disrupted by digestible imaging devices that offer non-invasive and comprehensive body scans, providing an alternative to traditional scanning methods.
3. Diagnostic Technology - Advancements in portable medical diagnostics, such as swallowable ultrasound machines, present disruptive innovation opportunities in the diagnostic technology industry by enabling convenient and detailed health assessments.