GE Releases New Portable Ultrasound, The Vscan Extend

GE Healthcare, the company that wowed the world with its tiny Vscan ultrasound a number of years ago, is unveiling a new device for performing ultrasound exams in a variety of settings. The Vscan Extend features two ultrasound probes built into the transducer head, which is connected via a wire to a smartphone-like touchscreen display.

The device weighs just under a pound (400 grams) and is small enough to fit into a pocket. Thanks to DICOM integration, it can connect to a hospital’s PACS (picture archiving and communication system) and upload images seamlessly to keep on record.

The device is intended for multiple clinical use cases, including measuring bladder volume and for assessing heart failure patients, or, as can be seen from the picture below, checking for pleural effusion or pneumothorax. Though it has not yet been evaluated for use during transport, it should be useful for clinicians working in the field, including for military medics and physicians supporting professional sporting events.