William Richard, Ph.D. of Washington University is well on the way to providing the USB Smartphone Probe, allowing for an easy ultrasound on-the-go. Richard has shrunk down the electronics of a cabinet-sized device and placed it inside a USB ultrasound probe, while leveraging the computing power of a Smartphone.
The result is compact, cost-effective ultrasound that can not only be used for prenatal scanning, but also for scanning of arteries to look for obstructions, veterinary use and tissue analysis.
Implications - While USB ultrasound probes are available commercially over the counter, the newest modification makes the advanced medical technology work with a smartphone so patients have one less thing to remember. The research grants awarded by Microsoft Research has allowed for further field studies and trials with DMD patients at WU med school.
Portable Ultrasounds
The USB Smartphone Probe is a Handy Piece of Medical Machinery
Trend Themes
1. USB Ultrasound Probes - The development of USB ultrasound probes opens up opportunities for portable ultrasound devices that can be easily connected to smartphones.
2. Mobile Medical Devices - The integration of medical technology with smartphones enables the development of compact and cost-effective ultrasound devices that can be used on-the-go.
3. Smartphone-enabled Healthcare - The use of smartphones as a platform for medical devices like ultrasound probes allows for convenient healthcare solutions accessible to a wider population.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Device Manufacturing - The advancement of portable ultrasound technology presents disruptive innovation opportunities for companies in the medical device manufacturing industry to create compact and cost-effective ultrasound devices.
2. Telemedicine - The integration of USB ultrasound probes with smartphones opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for telemedicine industry to provide remote ultrasound services.
3. Digital Health Technology - The convergence of medical technology and smartphones creates disruptive innovation opportunities for companies in the digital health technology industry to develop smartphone-enabled healthcare solutions.