GE Unveils Handheld Ultrasound Machine

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Is the future for routine medical exams. Sure these handheld devices will not have the resolution and features of the big machines, but they will be great to triage gross pathology at the point of care. Once something is discovered by one of these handhled units, the patients will be reffered to a radiology center for a regular exam by a certified sonographer/radiologist.

Rafael Vega of FL 12:55PM December 17, 2010

First of all, there are plenty of physicians capable of accurately reading ultrasound images and are properly trained and credentialed. Ultrasound technologists are not MD's and do not have the same training and are not the "only people" capable of performing ultrasound. That is like saying a phlebotomist is the only person skilled enough to draw blood. US techs are trained to acquire accurate images and this requires basic skills at interpreting images. Second, there are no "proven" effects on the brains of babies. There are studies regarding Doppler imaging energies and mice brains, so I think it should be considered and studied to make sure it does not have adverse effects on a human fetus. This could easily become a very basic and useful tool in multiple specialties.

Noel Hastings of CA 11:54AM June 14, 2010

Nice, but too small probably to see subtle detail...should not take the place of regular ultrasound....primary care docs cannot read ultrasounds,...that is done by radiologists usually, (obstetricians and vascular physicians also read with special training)...most doctors, including radiologists cannot perform a comprehensive exam...that task is better left to registered ultrasound technologists.
Obstetrics is only a small part of ultrasound's capabilities...but this device would have certain uses...e.g to see free fluid (bleed after trauma) in the abdomen, hydronephrosis (dilated kidney) and other gross pathology. The patient would likely be refereed for more testing.
Ultrasound should only be used by trained professionals. Long term effects, if any, at diagnostic levels for imaging, are not currently known.

Sharon O 9:29PM February 28, 2010

If this device is ultrasound, it means that it involved a coupling gel to allow the wand to pick up the movement of the baby's heart and to produce photographic images. The type of radiation which goes in to the womb is non-ionizing radiation. The sound waves are invasive and they have a proven affect on the developing brain of the baby.
Remember when Tom Cruise bought his own ultrasound machine to monitor his wife's pregnancy? The obstetricians were up in arms that this wasn't something that "lay" people should have access to because it could cause harm.

Gloria Lemay 2:54AM February 24, 2010