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]

[Alexw Posted Apr 22nd 2009 2:18PM]

@RattyUK
>> Maybe - but the point is that development of this kind of thing is easy on the iPhone.
You mean, it will be easy, once 3.0 is released and iPhone catches up to where WM2003 was, in '03. Only it won't be an open standard like USB-On-The-Go, and you'll have to ask Apple to approve your device. You'll also have to pay for the privilege, even if your app/device doesn't get approval.

Yeah, HTC's revenue is down.. they haven't had a large handset launch recently. I hear they're last major set of devices did quite well though: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2008/12/09/g1-and-diamond-push-htc-to-record-profits-in-november/

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 7:47PM]

Take this concept of hardware expansion coupled with the iPhone app expansion model forward 10 years and how far away will every mobile phone be away from a Star Trek-esque tri-corder?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 8:19PM]

Absolutely correct. The auto industry will be the first to start integrating the iPhone/Touch with BT and Dock leveraging the new SDK. Another blow to the MS "me too" initiative to further extend their tentacle in to the auto industry to try and monopolize that market.

[Alexw Posted Apr 22nd 2009 2:28PM]

"the iPhone app expansion model" - It's not even released yet, and it's their model. Plugging peripherals into your phone? Apple didn't invent that. They haven't even got a phone out that does that yet.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 8:11PM]

This is getting reported wrong. One of the guys has worked on the sensors, but the grant was only for making commercially available usb scanners (available for 2 grand) to work with WinMo. There was no hardware work whatsoever involved in this project. They connected commercially available usb scanners to a phone, and it took them 100,000 grand and a whole year to write what they admit is a limited program that requires hacking the cellphone's firmware. It's so useless they need another grant and the help of MIT to get anyone to test it in real world scenarios (which is still on the drawing board) despite the fact that it uses commercial, off-the-shelf sonogram scanners (that I've already seen plugged into Windows tablets, oddly enough). I can tell this story is intended as a press release for WinMo, but it's quite the opposite.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 10:05PM]

Wrong. The probes *were* modified. They are not the same probes. They have to run on 0.5W of power to be used on a cell phone and not send data faster than the full-speed (not high-speed) bus can handle.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 10:43PM]

As a doctor I don't care what platform the device is running on as long as:

1) It is stable
2) The unit has modular batteries that allow recharging in case of power failure.
3) The screen is legible & large. (i.e. both high resolution and large size matter)
4) There are various sizes of ultrasound probes available whether I want to insert a catheter into the heart, do an obstetric exam, or check for deep vein thrombosis.

The iPhone versus WinMo debate is rather ridiculous armchair quarterbacking from people who should stick to their choice of operating system and let us in the field use the best tool for the job.

As I stated just now, it doesnt really seem like anyone else here has field experience actually using ultrasounds. While this may be a wonderful achievement in terms of cost sometimes you really do get what you pay for.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 9:31PM]

Also an MD here. Thank you for a sensible comment. This really didn't need to degenerate into a Apple vs. MS war, and both camps are equally moronic for missing the big picture and making it one.

I'd agree with your first 3 concerns, but not so much #4. I get the sense that for stuff like putting in central lines, diagnosing DVTs, etc... No one will use a mobile phone probe over the real deal. One big reason: if anything goes wrong or a diagnosis is missed because of the crappy imaging, the physcian will get slammed with a law suit (and rightfully so).

Where I could see this being useful is the developing world (like the article says) where something is much better than nothing, or for small procedures like drawing blood or putting in IVs in patients that have really crappy veins. Low risk and saves on patients getting repeated sticks.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 9:33PM]

Also an MD here. Thank you for a sensible comment. This really didn't need to degenerate into a Apple vs. MS war, and both camps are equally moronic for missing the big picture and making it one.

I'd agree with your first 3 concerns, but not so much #4. I get the sense that for stuff like putting in central lines, diagnosing DVTs, etc... No one will use a mobile phone probe over the real deal. One big reason: if anything goes wrong or a diagnosis is missed because of the crappy imaging, the physcian will get slammed with a law suit (and rightfully so).

Where I could see this being useful is the developing world (like the article says) where something is much better than nothing, or for small procedures like drawing blood or putting in IVs in patients that have really crappy veins. Low risk and saves on patients getting repeated sticks.

I'm totally getting one of these when it becomes available.

[WebOn Posted Apr 21st 2009 9:45PM]

MD here, from an actual developing country, just to clear things up a bit, we do have ultra sounds here, although not every where.
Our maternal and child morbidity and mortality is tremendously high, picture a field doctor in a rural area tending a pregnant lady, he could check the baby's condition and estimate if they can get to the hospital or he is to do an emergency c section, I call that awesome

[superhobo Posted Apr 22nd 2009 6:30AM]

As a non-doctor, I thank you for your rational and intelligent post.

But on Engadget? Hahahahaha

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 9:33PM]

oops! sorry for the double post.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 10:10PM]

My company have just finished building something very similar to this, although we are still pending regulatory approval from the FDA and TGA(au) for medical use, although the veterinary version is available for sale.

http://www.signosticsmedical.com/ (medical)
http://www.speqview.com/ (vet)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 22nd 2009 11:33AM]

Wash U's (in St. Louis) comp sci department in the news... sweet. Anyone interested should come check us out, we have a great department! http://www.cse.seas.wustl.edu/

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 22nd 2009 8:26AM]

Hey, don't you people realize what this is? The first step towards the tricorder!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2009 2:01AM]

I'm totally going to get knocked up just to have an excuse to buy one of these.

[(Unverified) Posted May 9th 2009 3:25PM]

USB ultrasound on windows mobile...now that is innovation. With the new windows mobile 6.5 and the larger high resolution screens coming from toshiba and others, I think this little invention will definitely be able to help people in a lot of ways. I am always a huge fan when technology is used to help improve people's lives. It is great that microsoft invested in this project with the professors at washington university.

[(Unverified) Posted May 9th 2009 9:22PM]

I think you guys ONE AND ALL missed the point of this whole article. Forgive my candidness, and I am not going to get into english grammar and spelling debate here... I have 2 Master's degrees. Simple (Anyone can get one if they make the effort) but unimportant beyond the fact that it gives me a bit of insight because of what they have allowed me to do... work in "3rd world" conditions.

Granted, I am a mental health therapist and a clinic manager with my own practice on the side. But I work int he rural communities of the Western USA. I have years of practice in rural areas (Texas, New Mexico, Utah, and now Montana... Wheee, I live in the badlands and boldly go where... um, anyway back to the galaxy that's not so far away).

I have seen what lack of medical equipment and medical professionals can do to people. And what a small change, like having this type of device, can do FOR people. And that's just within the US, especially the western US. Something like this is a miracle. No, it's not perfect but it's a damned sight better than ALOT of places have and it might just save a life. One life matters more than the petty arguments about M$ v. Apple (Which has always had a money focus since i was a kid in high school in the 80's... WHY do you think Apple LIKED having a closed architecture system!??!?! WHY do you think they like controlling your software!?!?? CASH BABY! But, we call Bill's efforts M$ instead of MS.. why? Because he broke away from the pack and is a geek who made damned good? He does more for poor folks, science, higher educational opportunities, medicine than Steve Jobs or Mr. Wosniack do with their oodles of cash... and no, don't remind me of Mr. Jobs medical state, I feel for him and his family, I am just making a point here).

This invention, regardless of platform and the errors in the written article that announced it to us so graciously (they could have used this space to talk about the Dream Cheeky Star Trek USB Communicator some more but chose to let us know about something MUCH more important instead) that you guys turned it into IdiotWars and a platform to attack the reporter, the editors, and the bloody PLATFORM for a device that, while it is not perfect (another set of stupid comments were made in this vein) COULD SAVE LIVES! We might be able to use it to keep an eye on tumour size and its growth, development, or even its shrinkage or watch the gestation of a fetus. This is not a perfect system but, maybe just maybe, if you would use your heads to do more than attack each other, you might be able to help its development into something that will work on ANY phone and be a better product. Half of you guys in here (ladies included in this whole set of my idiotic time wasting commentary) are probably tech savvy enough to make useful suggestions to the folks who are WORKING THEIR ASSES OFF CREATING THIS COOL EARLY REAL-LIFE VERSION OF A MEDICAL TRICORDER!! This basic concept can lead to bigger and better things... Imagine what this can do given TIME, USEFUL INPUT, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT!

So try to use your time for something useful and, like your Mama's all said at some point in your development and her parenting/raising your silly asses, if you can't say something useful.... STFU!!!!!!!!!!!!