Ultrasound phone

Computer engineers at Washington University in St Louis have coupled a USB-based ultrasound probe with a smartphone, producing a medical imaging device that fits in the palm of a hand.

Dr William Richard, an associate professor of computer science and engineering, and David Zar, a research associate in computer science and engineering, made the commercial USB ultrasound probes compatible with Microsoft Windows mobile-based smartphones, thanks to a $100,000 grant Microsoft awarded the two in 2008.

To make commercial USB ultrasound probes work with smartphones, the researchers had to optimise every aspect of the probe's design, from power consumption and data transfer rate to image-formation algorithms.

As a result of their work, it is now possible to build smartphone-compatible USB ultrasound probes for imaging the kidneys, liver, bladder and eyes; endocavity probes for prostate and uterine screenings and biopsies; and vascular probes for imaging veins and arteries for starting IVs and central lines.