USB ultrasound device coming to a Windows Mobile phone near you?

Two computer science professors at Washington University in St. Louis have produced a USB ultrasound probe which is compatible with Windows Mobile smartphones. The project, funded by Microsoft, has developed and optimized probe that uses less power, and is enhanced for data transfer rates on cellphones. The devices could be especially useful in on-the-go situations -- for ambulances, emergencies, and for use by traveling medical staff. The makers also foresee that the device could positively effect medical practice in the developing world, where equipment and doctors can be scarce, and a small, but cellphone access is ever increasingly prevalent. We don't know when these might be commercially available, but they are hoping to sell them for around $500 -- significantly cheaper than many portable ultrasounds, which can cost almost $30,000.

Update: Check out another image after the break.

[Via Physorg]

[Bosco @ Apr 21st 2009 6:56PM]

Sadly, 3 years too late for Tom and Katie.

[Adam @ Apr 21st 2009 11:00PM]

3 years too late maybe, but go wash U!

[bhsx @ Apr 21st 2009 7:06PM]

This is very hard to read, please correct the errors, this isn't slashdot :)

[Rohim @ Apr 21st 2009 7:08PM]

I'll have to agree with you. I gave up after effect

[Philippe @ Apr 21st 2009 7:13PM]

Yeah, what's up with "effect". That's the second post in a week or so with the same error.

[The_Dude @ Apr 21st 2009 7:15PM]

it seems between her last post @ 3.03 ( game park wiz app.....) and this one at 6.43 Ms Laura June got drunk.... or developed amnesia,

[tophiannan @ Apr 21st 2009 7:47PM]

I agree. A poorly written post. And you were just nominated for an EPpy...

[Gad Get @ Apr 21st 2009 8:18PM]

I'm so glad I'm only an Engadget reader and commenter, and not a writer.

[monty @ Apr 21st 2009 10:30PM]

Laura, long night?

[Micah @ Apr 22nd 2009 11:33AM]

There's nothing wrong with effect, amateurs: http://xkcd.com/326/ ;)

[monty @ Apr 22nd 2009 11:10PM]

@micah

"has developed and optimized probe"

and that part is right too?

"and a small, but cellphone access is ever increasingly prevalent."

what about that one?

amateur.

[Wwhat @ Apr 23rd 2009 7:06AM]

effect /I"fEkt/ v.. . Bring about (an event or result); accomplish (an intention or desire).

Not that there isn't reason to complain, take the line:
"where equipment and doctors can be scarce, and a small, but cellphone access is ever increasingly prevalent."

That makes and a small sense no.

[Clyde Berry @ Apr 21st 2009 7:08PM]

Now, WinMo users everywhere can use Portable Ultrasound to finally do something cool with their WinMo phone.

[superhobo @ Apr 22nd 2009 6:23AM]

*not feeding the troll*

[The_Dude @ Apr 21st 2009 7:09PM]

' and a small, but cellphone access is ever increasingly prevalent.'

it always good to read any work once before you send it off .....

although, i bet its changed before the masses arrive.

[Jacko @ Apr 21st 2009 7:08PM]

I repair ultrasounds for a living. This is friggin' incredible. I cannot wait to see where this goes.

[mage6669 @ Apr 21st 2009 8:01PM]

Its going to lead you straight to the unemployment line with the rest of us. :P

Hey-hey-hey..no cutting.

[Taylor @ Apr 21st 2009 9:37PM]

mage6999: I know that was not meant to be taken seriously, but it's pretty obvious a USB ultrasound in a mobile phone won't ever compete with the full machines used by hospitals.

Let me know when *cameras* in phones start competing with regular digital cameras.

[MeanSpyvie @ Apr 22nd 2009 12:20PM]

A few years from now you might be able to buy a $300 USB utrasound that plugs into your lappy and has good reolution.

[cagore40 @ Apr 21st 2009 7:13PM]

I had fun using one for a party a while back would love to get one

[jonny @ Apr 21st 2009 7:15PM]

As a physician in a rural clinic who does obstetrics, this would be really cool. We can't afford one of the more expensive units that the hospital has. Unfortunately you won't pry my iphone away from me for some WinMo phone...

[u r an iTard @ Apr 21st 2009 7:22PM]

wow I am sure your patients would be happy to hear you care more about a poor excuse for a phone than you do their unborn children.

[kempcross @ Apr 21st 2009 7:25PM]

I'm sure your patients will understand.

[comments4cheap @ Apr 21st 2009 7:27PM]

Not even if it saves or helps lives? And you call yourself a physician? You Ifool or Itool.

[Samurai Jack @ Apr 21st 2009 7:30PM]

Don't worry. It won't be too long before there'll be an app for that too.

Heck, you can probably use the same device with a USB - dock connector cable...

[jonny @ Apr 21st 2009 7:30PM]

Well, I let my patients hold my iphone and they are pretty much happy with whatever I tell them at that point. I can even charge more for the visit. They are just happy to have a glimpse of my shiny iphone. I feel sorry for you WinMO losers. Go play with your Dells in your mammas basement.

[d889 @ Apr 21st 2009 7:34PM]

the credibility of you actually possessing an MD is flying out the window...

[jonny @ Apr 21st 2009 7:39PM]

The probability of you being a WinMo loser is increasing

[kempcross @ Apr 21st 2009 7:42PM]

You got your MD in Guam, didn't you?

[Nohone @ Apr 21st 2009 7:57PM]

You wish you were half the doctor Doogie Howser was.

[Evan @ Apr 21st 2009 7:57PM]

no, on the internet!

[webon @ Apr 21st 2009 9:33PM]

@jonny, dude, you are an ass,

let me exemplify:

patient: Doctor I need to know if my unborn child is ok
jonny: Im sorry mam, cant do, my iphone aint no ultrasound, but to confort you I have ifart installed
iphone: prurrrrhopppprrpfttftprrrrrppp, ppprtrrrpppr, pppppffftttt, prrrraaaap!

[extinctdoughnut @ Apr 22nd 2009 10:30AM]

hey dumbasses, he's messing with you.

[Luis Rivera @ Apr 21st 2009 7:13PM]

i love my zune!!!

[Zak @ Apr 21st 2009 7:17PM]

The question is, is it as good as a $30,000 portable ultrasound? Phrases like "enhanced for data transfer rates on cellphones" makes me think the resolution is going to be quite a bit worse than a real ultrasound. That might mean a much higher chance to miss something important, potentially putting it in the realm of "the difference between life and death".

Would you trust your own life to one of those instead of an actual portable ultrasound? I'm not too sure I would.

[comments4cheap @ Apr 21st 2009 7:30PM]

As long as it is not Doctor Iphone on top using it, I can give it a chance depending on the situation.

[d889 @ Apr 21st 2009 7:36PM]

yeah this really isnt supposed to be as good as the real thing, i mean the portable ones and stuff you would find in an EMT truck are for real diagnosing on the fly ... i mean with a screen on a mobile phone you are NOT ganna get a real definitive answer from it, maybe it could be used for like seeing a baby on your phone or something....

[Jubei @ Apr 21st 2009 7:23PM]

A total waste of money and resources. The iPhone with its new SDK that further enhances BT and Dock connector functionality will provide these functionalities easily. Even extend it beyond what MS the "me too" company can ever dream of. At a much lower cost.

MS announced this so that they can shout to the world that they had it first on their failing WinMobile platform. Failing platform. That why this entire exercise is futile.

[kempcross @ Apr 21st 2009 7:28PM]

*sigh* your post made me tired.

[Pimpin Curly @ Apr 21st 2009 7:33PM]

*Spits on Jubei's face*

[Kwikit @ Apr 21st 2009 9:51PM]

I agree with Comments4cheap.

Oh my god, is it ever exasperating, you fucking Tools. Any credit I would consider acknowledging is thwarted by twats like you and the company itself.

Get out and stop pretending that selecting a device takes you anywhere close to the stature of the individuals inventing said device.

I pray that Apple just fucking folds and dies. I don't think I will miss any of their unfortunate attitude.

[John Laur @ Apr 26th 2009 8:55PM]

FWIW Having actually read the developer docs for the accessories, there is no way you could get this to work on the iphone - you likely would not have the bandwidth for ultrasound data over either bluetooth or serial. The accessories api does not allow interfacing with the dock connector at high speed. Arguably, the two devices could interface via wifi (or bluetooth 3.0) but it would be more complicated and error prone and make the whole setup more expensive than it needs to be.

Considering the pricing, the most appropriate device to have on hand for this is probably a nice WinMo PDA or a netbook dedicated for use with the ultrasound device. Really, at the price differences between this and normal commercial ultrasounds the $100 - $400 cost of the computing device is completely irrelevant.

[sweet greggo @ Apr 21st 2009 7:24PM]

So let me get this straight. If I get a WinMo phone I could potentially save lives.

If I get an iPhone I can play fart sounds.

Okay, then.

[RattyUK @ Apr 21st 2009 8:15PM]

You are a twat.

As Jubei mentioned this will be squished by the iPhone version. Out in August or September after the 3.0 release.

[pedro @ Apr 21st 2009 8:54PM]

Oh my, its an invasion of vile, foul mouthed itrolls.

Tecnology makes something good to help people and you guys slate it because it didnt come from Apple.

I guess you would rather die than have a pacemaker put in, due to the fact that the software/hardware is not made my a certain company.

As for this coming to iPhone any time in the future, wouldnt that make Apple the 'me too' company?

While we are here, just remember that Windows Mobile sold more handsets than iPhone in the last quarter. I expect it will be confirmed for last two quarters by the end of the week. There are many more Windows Mobile Devices out there than iPhone.

You people are disgusting and tarnish the Apple brand with your stupidity.

[RattyUK @ Apr 21st 2009 10:11PM]

@ pedro
"Oh my, its an invasion of vile, foul mouthed itrolls.
Tecnology makes something good to help people and you guys slate it because it didnt come from Apple."

Firstly the word is technology.

And I think you are blissfully unaware of what the 3.0 update will allow. Yes it will allow cut and paste. Woopie doo. That should keep most of the M$ trolls happy. The opening up of the control port will make this kind of interface easy on the iPod.

"As for this coming to iPhone any time in the future, wouldnt that make Apple the 'me too' company?"
Maybe - but the point is that development of this kind of thing is easy on the iPhone.

"You people are disgusting and tarnish the Apple brand with your stupidity."
I think you mistake stupidity for "not seeing the world as I see it" Just because YOU think you are right doesn't make it so. Also I would like to point out that the whole point of posting a "controversial" post was to pull you fanbois out of the closet.

"While we are here, just remember that Windows Mobile sold more handsets than iPhone in the last quarter. I expect it will be confirmed for last two quarters by the end of the week. There are many more Windows Mobile Devices out there than iPhone."
Yup, Windows sold more windows mobile phones. How many different phones have windows mobile? Grats guys - BTW did you SEE the numbers from HTC - I think they are the largest WinMo supplier - they were in the crapper I believe. Probably just as well that Apple only makes one phone really? What do you think?

[VanillaSpice @ Apr 21st 2009 10:56PM]

pedro, could you, just for a moment, please acknowledge the incredible hypocrisy you have shown?

sweet greggo made a troll post ... but you have no problem with that
RattyUK made a much less trollish reply ... and you go off the deep end

YOU are the company fanboy here - you ignored the original troll post because it was against a company you don't like, and responded to the reply, because it was against a company you do like.

Here is a tip - assess a comment on the quality of its content, not the companies it appears to be pro or anti towards.

As for your "me too" comment, remember this - that was a troll argument when Apple fanboys used it, and it is still a troll argument when fanboys like you use it now. You cannot simultaneously deride fanboys and then use the exact same words and phrases as they do, unless of course you are comfortable being a hypocrite.

[pedro @ Apr 21st 2009 10:58PM]

Oh no, I made an error in my post. It is good to see that you perfectly fit the stereotype of an an Apple user, that is a complete asshat.

I am perfectly aware of what the iPhone update can do, this site has already discussed it at great length. Maybe when 3.0 comes out, somebody will develop a similar 'me too' solution for the iPhone.

Your itrolling here is obvious. Pull the fanbois out of the closet? What are you, some kind of Apple crusading Wiesenthal?? The orignal story made no mention of Apple, but appears to have attracted fawning Apple fans such as yourself. I would advise you to keep your self confessed flamebait to yourself.

I am fully aware of the HTC results, profits down 30% off a 3.5% drop in revenues. Your itrolling and FUD does not count for much when people look at the actual numbers and analysis.

Your stupid trolling does tarnish the reputation of Apple.

[pedro @ Apr 21st 2009 11:12PM]

My comment was not only directed at RattyUK, but the the itrolls that preceeded him also. I generally would not consider one person to be an invasion. Just his foul mouth pushed me to reply.

You appear to be rather judgemental, how do you know what companies I do and do not like?

As for my 'me too' comments, I guess that some people have little sense of irony.

[superhobo @ Apr 22nd 2009 6:28AM]

RattyUK: What about trillions that will die before the 3.0 release? All you care about is keeping your iPhoney