As Butterfly Network initially started rolling out its hand-held ultrasound devices in 2018, most of the concentration was on offering tools to part of Latin America and Africa, where access big and more traditional ultrasound devices were far more restricted. But after two years, a technology that was set to support the developing world may get modern use in the U.S. as many hospitals adjust to the novel challenges of the pandemic Coronavirus.
The Butterfly iQ is a handheld probe similar to the one attached to traditional ultrasound machines, but is attached to a cable that connects to a smartphone or tablet through its charging port. Doctors view the images on a screen through Butterfly’s app. https://t.co/KxHZih98mt
— CNN (@CNN) July 9, 2020
Adopting an ultrasound examination could be an extensive method that normally requires a tour to the hospital and the use of apparatus worth tens of thousands of dollars. As you know, ultrasound can be useful in the treatment of COVID-19 by scanning the lungs of the patient, taking Coronavirus patients to the test room dangers exposing to other people to the Coronavirus.
At that time, the device of Butterfly Network comes to help others. The Butterfly iQ contains a hand-held examination which is similar to the old one linked to traditional ultrasound devices, but instead, it is linked via a cable that joins to a tablet or any other smartphone through the device’s charging port. Moreover, doctors can then observe and see the images on the display screen with the help of the Butterfly application.
Source: Web
No need to transfer patient to other place
Butterfly Network’s director of education and Portland-based emergency physician, Mike Stone, said that he doesn’t need to transfer that patient to another place of the hospital fro traditional imaging and exposure to other additional staff and potentially COVID-19 patients along the way.
He continued that the fact that he can take a hand-held ultrasound device that inserts into a smartphone into a room, perform the exam that he wants to do, take the info that he needs, walk out and disinfect the cellphone and a probe, compared to wheeling in a cart with 3 various probes on it, performing that similar exam, taking that similar information, it is really night and day.
The Butterfly iQ is one of those products that are trying to streamline the phenomenon. Firms like Phillips and GE, and many other smaller companies are even developing devices that permit to take ultrasound gadgets in their pockets. Furthermore, there may be restrictions and few tradeoffs in the quality, some doctors hope the benefits are clear.
The director of an imaging program at Mount Sinai hospital system of New York, Jagat Narula, said that the quality of the image may not be great, but the quality of the image is there, it can link the message that he is trying to see. He added that he is going to do a point of care ultrasound on the patient’s bedside; it would provide everything that he needs.
