Comment by juretriglav | Hacker News Reader

Comment by juretriglav | Hacker News Reader

I guess what's new here is the capacitive micro-machined ultrasound transducers (CMUT), ultrasound emitters directly on a semi-conductor wafer. Though I would like to see what we can do with this technology without limitations of mobile/portable.

In terms of portable ultrasound, there are a few existing solutions on the market:

This looks pretty portable (connected to an iPhone too): http://www.mobisante.com/

GE's portable ultrasound seems pretty portable too: http://www3.gehealthcare.com/en/Products/Categories/Ultrasou...

Best of luck to Rothberg et al., I believe there's a huge consumer market for a portable ultrasound done right! The pregnancy market alone is vast, e.g. https://www.bellabeat.com/

The difference with GE Vscan seems to be the 3D reconstruction capabilities. However I am not sure if the 3D is really needed. I always understood the 3D ultrasound reconstruction as a gimmick (at least in obstetrics) to show parent the head of their future baby.

Most of the ultrasound-using doctors that I've talked to in med school seem to agree with you; if there's a real need for 3D imaging today, doctors (in 1st world countries at least) send the patient for a CT. The cost/benefit for 3D ultrasound doesn't compare favorably to CT because it is a much noisier imaging process and it takes just about as long as a CT.

That's why if you Google image search for "3D ultrasound", you get mostly pictures of fetus faces and very few medical conditions.

So, I see this product mostly benefitting the 3rd world, unless they vastly improve image quality and lowered the technical hurdles compared to existing ultrasound equipment. (Which would be awesome, but is a hard problem.)

Disclaimer: have used the Vscan as a student, but am no means an expert in ultrasound.

good luck trying to ct scan a pregnant woman!

True, but you've just emphasized my (and the GP's) point: 3D ultrasound is probably most relevant for pregnant women and 3rd world situations.

Incidentally, besides the abdomen and pelvis, you can safely CT just about any other part of a pregnant woman.

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