London: A portable ultrasound scanner of the
size of a large mobile phone which, medics claim, would help
speed up diagnosis for emergency patients has been launched in
Europe and North America.
The developer of the 5,000 pounds machine, G E
Healthcare, says it is not designed as an alternative to
traditional scanners but to offer a fast diagnosis and enable
early treatment under emergency condition
The Vscan device can be used to take images of the heart
and other parts of the body of the patients, who are away from
a hospital -- like at home or on military operations, the
Telegraph reported.
"In terms of clinical practice it`s a huge step forward.
We`re giving people essentially an electronic stethoscope in
their pocket ... with adequate training this should mean we
can diagnose rapidly and treat accordingly.
"It should be an amazing development," said George
Sutherland, the first doctor in Britain to use the hand-held
scanner, which looks like a cross between a flip-top phone and
an iPod.
PTI
