The healthcare industry is changing very fast reflecting the fact that technological advancement is improving patient experiences and making healthcare more convenient, cheaper and effective. Within these areas, portable ultrasound machines are gradually revealing themselves as breakthrough tools which provide exceptional diagnostic utility in the relatively small sizes. Specifically, in this article, it is interesting to discuss about how the portable ultrasound machines are transforming the healthcare and expanding patient’s benefits and new innovative practices for different sectors.

What is portable Ultrasound Machines?

Most readers will be well-acquainted with the use of ultrasound in diagnostic imaging. Linear array transducers are more commonly used in hospitals or specialized clinics and physically occupy considerable space; they are operated by a specialist. However, portable ultrasound machines are the same in their ability to deliver the power of diagnosis in the form of a lightweight compact and mobile device that can be taken around the practice or from one place to another.

Modern portable ultrasound machines are usually less bulky, often wireless, and some of the constituent processes and tools are as following: touch screens, cloud storing and real-time image processing. These machines are more and more applied in different clinical areas, for example hospitals and clinics, deserted regions and even in emergency cases. The consequence therefore is quicker, faster diagnosis, comprehensive and improved care.

Major Development on the On-Going Portable Ultrasound Devices

Miniaturization of Technology

The first few mobile ultrasound systems were larger than the contemporary ones and capable of a less number of functions than the regular wall-mounted devices. Of late however, manufacturers have pursued miniaturization to a level that has not only generated mini devices but also those of enhanced capability. They are effective imaging tools, providing almost comparable image quality to the conventional ultrasound systems. Some portable models are now nearly as small as a smart phone or tablet; it is possible to put them in a pocket or take them with one in a bag or an ambulance.

Wireless and Cloud Connectivity

Wireless networking and cloud computing are two emerging areas In to relating to wireless technology and cloud computing. Current compact Ultrasound machines include wireless characteristics to facilitate real time image transfer and cloud storage systems. This means that images and data can be immediately transferred to the specialists to review at a given time thus allowing teleconsultations and short time diagnosis. It is most useful in any facility located in a rural or a remote setting, thus serving a community that may have restricted access to a specialist.

Enhanced Image Quality

The improvements in the technology used in portable ultrasound devices have included new probes, software used in imaging and hence improved images in the devices. For instance, current equipment is endowed with 3D and 4D images, a feature that is very helpful in cases like pregnancy. These developments predispose to the enhanced differential diagnoses in the multiple fields of medicine.

Long battery life and durability

Today’s portable ultrasound machines come with long battery-backup and are constructed to sustain tough-working environments, traumas and field application where there might be limited access to electrical supply. This level of portability is one feature that has seen them adopted by many healthcare facilities in recent years.

How portable ultrasound machines are changing face of healthcare

Effective and Efficient Service Delivery in hard to reach or deprived areas

Said among the many benefits of portable ultrasound machines is that they are ideal tools for increasing the rate of access to health, particularly in rural areas. People in rural and low resource settings, frequently presented with equipment and MD shortage or poor accessibility, are unable to access efficient diagnostic facilities. Portable ultrasound machines on the other hand help the health professional to conduct diagnostic imaging on the same site without subjecting the patients to the rigor of moving to a hospital.

For instance, in rural Africa where facilities in the health sector may be something that a dream is made of, portable ultra sound equipments can be used by midwives and GP in diagnosing complications in pregnancy, abdomino-pelvic pathologies and fetal anomalies thus increasing the quality of and survival rates of mothers and their young ones.

In disaster-struck areas, or the war areas,PORTABLE ULTRASOUND DEVICES have thus emerged as some of the most important tools for emergency medical teams. Using it, they can easily determine whether a patient has any internal injuries such as bleeding or other complications in cases where the knowledge of the exact state is so essential.

Improvement of the Ability and Capacity of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and First Responders

The use of portable’s has also revolutionized the Emergency medical services (EMS) and first responders as well. These gadgets can be utilised by emergency caretakers and field physicians to implement initial examinations and, every once in a while, diagnose diseases like heart failure, interior hemorrhage or deep vein thrombosis before the patients get admitted into the healthcare institution.

For example, in a trauma, ultrasound can be applied on the belly or chest to looked for signs of bleeding (an approach referred to as Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST)). This will help define the correct initial management, including fluid therapy or operations, therefore enhance the patient’s condition since treatment is determined faster and accurately.

Improving Point-of-Care Diagnostic Testing

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics is one of the great marvels of modern healthcare that is being transformed by portable ultrasound technology. In other conventional environments, patient wait for several days, and sometimes weeks, before receiving the outcomes of imaging tests, which causes a delay in diagnosis and treatment. However, compact ultrasounds allow the doctors to perform diagnostic imaging during the visits, and provide instant reports that can directly impact the plan of actions and treatments.

For instance, in the urgent care centers, doctors can perform point of care ultrasound scan in order to diagnose pneumonia, kidney stones or deep vein thrombosis. In outpatient facilities the machines could also be employed by the primary care physician to check on a patient with implantable abdominal pain or any other symptom that may be present to avoid referral to the radiologist or specialist.

Improved Prenatal Care

There is an innovation in using portable ultrasound in prenatal services. Earlier, expectant mothers had to attend specialized clinics, or hospitals for an ultrasound scan, but with portable ultrasound devices equipment, it would be possible for doctors to monitor pregnancies in such centres and clinics as community health, and rural clinics. This is especially advantageous in centres where access to conventional ultrasound devices is restricted.

Mobile ultrasound machinery can also enable earlier diagnosis of a number of issues including an ectopic pregnancy, poor fetal development or congenital disorders. Such conditions, when diagnosed at an early stage, means that interferences can be made that will greatly reduce the effects on the mother or baby.

This area includes cost reduction and efficiency gains that have been achieved on continuous basis in the organization.

Traditionally, the capital investment made in conventional imaging devices has remained quite high and for a long time now, imaging has been a specialized discipline that required both training and proper infrastructure for its implementation which has access to healthcare in many parts of the world, especially in the developing world. Compared to RMS, PUMs are considerably cheaper and, therefore, are viable solutions for modern hospitals, clinics, and, especially, mobile health care centers. Portable ultrasound systems demonstrate lower cost and greater cost-effectiveness in providing precise and effective diagnosis and treatment of many medical conditions.

In addition, flexible ultrasound devices also help in avoiding long journeys in getting imaging through avoiding the need for patients to travel long distances therefore saving cost on their transport and time both for the patients and the doctors.

Challenges and Considerations

The advantages of portable ultrasound machines are quite apparent However, there is much to contemplate. For example, it is well understood that ultrasound scans are interpreted and since portable devices deliver images ; healthcare workers need to be fully trained on how to interpret images. There are portable ultrasound systems that are designed to come with an easy to operate interface but the ability of the operators remains a critical factor to consider.

The other problem areas include the question of payment and insurance claims. Even though, the usage of portable ultrasound machines is on the rise, it is not a standard stationery equipment, meaning that insurance companies may not always cover it, especially if carried out in settings such as home care or remote clinic. This is an area that requires policy makers and insurance service providers to be more flexible to enable equal access to this useful technology.

Lastly, issues of data privacies and security become a subject of worry; especially with ultrasound systems that rely on cloud storage. There are indispensable requirements for security measures in healthcare organizations and consistent with legal provisions including HIPAA in the United States .

Where is the Future of Portable Ultrasound in Healthcare?

Prospective development of the portable ultrasound technology is looking incredibly bright. Since both AI and machine learning are active fields of development it can be expected that portable ultrasound machines will become intelligent devices that analyze images and suggest diagnoses. This may further improve the practicality of the ultrasound technology especially when in the hand of novices.

Also, as more healthcare shifts towards patient-centric, value-based approach, hand-held ultrasound device are going to be useful in raising up the standards of care and decreasing costs. From being important in diagnosing for Acute Care hospitals, in which patients, often experiencing acute pain, receive the possibility of an immediate diagnosis; to pregnancy and prenatal examinations; to enabling diagnostic imaging in regions that have limited access to technology; portable ultrasound machines are contributing to defining the future of medicine.

Thus, portable ultrasound technology is changing the paradigms of healthcare delivery throughout the world. Due to the aspect of delivering accurate imaging results in the course of clinical requirements without a stationary base, portable ultrasound machines are linking healthcare to attaining optimized efficacy and financial savings particularly with vulnerable communities. As technology advances further, portable ultrasound devices are to become more and more an irreplaceable part of clinical practice, thus enhancing quality of the outcomes to be provided to patients globally.

Author Bio:

BeWellFinder.com is an organisation that James Brown co-founded and whose mission is to help people find genuine healthcare services. Taking care to specialise in healthcare technology, a discipline in which James finds a great sense of purpose, he reminds audiences of the benefits brought about by portable ultrasound machines, for instance. He is particularly interested in using technology to improve healthcare delivery for both patient and caregivers and equip them appropriately.