As with all technology things get smaller and cooler. Like a smart phone that can take ultrasound pictures. Imagine emergency response with these type of gadgets, police officers who arrive first that the scene.
With the help of a USD$100,000 grant from Microsoft, Dr William Richard, associate professor of computer science and engineering at Washington University, and David Zar, research associate in computer science and engineering, have made USB ultrasound probes compatible with a smartphone. To accomplish this, the pair had to optimize the power consumption, data transfer rate as well as the image formation algorithms of the probe. With that achieved, it was possible to build smartphone-compatible USB ultrasound probes for imaging different areas of the body, such as the kidney, liver, bladder and eyes, as well as the prostate veins and arteries. more at gizmag.com
