Vscan pocket-sized, ultra-smart ultrasound unveiled
GE’s drive to miniaturize technologies in order to make them more mobile couldn’t be better illustrated than with the breakthrough Vscan technology that GE’s Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt unveiled during his talk tonight at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. Roughly the size of a smart phone, it houses powerful ultrasound technology that can potentially redefine the way doctors examine patients. By giving doctors a view into the body from the palm of a hand, GE believes that Vscan could one day become as indispensable as the traditional physician’s stethoscope in patient exams.
Small is big: Jeff Immelt is seen here unveiling the new Vscan technology to the audience at tonight’s Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco.
Pocket-sized technology like Vscan has the potential to help redefine the physical exam and improve patient care by enhancing a doctor’s ability to quickly and accurately make a diagnosis. For critical care clinicians, Vscan can offer an immediate look beyond patient vital signs with the potential to identify critical issues, like fluid around the heart, which could be a sign of congestive heart failure. And for cardiologists, Vscan provides a dependable visual evaluation of how well the heart is pumping at a glance, so they can treat patients more efficiently.
Calling Dr. McCoy to sickbay: The handheld ultrasound can reduce the need for specialist referrals, which in turn can lower healthcare costs.
The Vscan debut followed Jeff’s announcement earlier in the evening about the potentially game-changing computerized system that will give real-time clinical data and treatment options to doctors. GE’s next step in developing Vscan is to work with 12 leading clinical sites throughout the world to help determine how the technology will impact patient workflow and focused exams in primary care, critical care and the cardiology practices. The ultimate goal is to develop a structural protocol for Vscan exams.
Check back tomorrow morning to see a video in which Mike Barber, Vice President of healthymagination, gives a Vscan overview from GE’s healthymagination technology showcase, which is underway in New York City.
* Read coverage on cnet.com
* Read coverage on finance.sharpnews.info
* Read coverage on venturebeat.com
* Register to watch live streams of the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco.
Read our recent stories from the new healthymagination technology showcase:
* “A breakthrough decision support solution for docs”
* “Tackling access with Brivo imaging technologies”
* “The business of bringing healthymagination to market”
* “At the showcase: Health by design and window tweets”
* “Scintillating tech: The world’s 1st high-def CT scanner”
* “Healthymagination tech showcase kicks off in NYC”
* Read the announcement about Jeff Immelt’s press event tomorrow at the showcase
Just about time. For many years I wondered when it could be possible to have a portable ultrasound equipment at my medical office so that I could use it as a daily tool. Now I got marveled to see that GE has made it. I feel very happy but at the same time a wonder if it will be affordable to me, since I live in a coutry where medical revenues are not that big general.
Congratulations to GE. Regards. Jairo
Amazing !!
Is it me – or does Jeff look like Steve Jobs presenting the iPhone at MacWorld? It’s wonderful to see GE staking a claim to the ‘cool technology’ mantle in healthcare. It’s important for GE’s image and relevance to the common person. Should the Vscan look and perform as advertised, then perhaps a whole new dimension of ‘consumer’ appeal will open up in health technology.
Whet is the price. When I can buy
Okay, I want one.
I want one NOW.
You can also read the InformationWeek Web 2.0 note on Vscan.
This is a great innovation.Real healthimagination initiative from GE. Real power in the hands of our doctors.
Dreams do come true.I cant imagine what could be the next innovation.Big THANKS to GEHC.
This is a good instrument. I would likebuy it. But, I don´t know, How much is it? There is lineal probe 7 a 12 Mhz?.
There’s nothing new about that. Siemens has relesead its ACUSON P10 one year before (http://www.medical.siemens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay~q_catalogId~e_-11~a_catTree~e_100010,1007660,12761,1005253~a_langId~e_-11~a_productId~e_182941~a_storeId~e_10001.htm) and seems has 510K.
It’s a scary possibility that the general public would have such easy access to a medical device such as this. What would happen to the credibility of the sonographer? This is a great application for ultrasound, but maybe it’s use should be more closely monitored?
The Aucson P10 is 1.6 lbs and the Vscan is the size of an ipod. There’s no comparison. This can go in your pocket! It’s a big deal for people looking for a pocket size system. Would you say the ipod is not new because Sony introduced a net-book a year ago?
I had a chance to check this device out; it is an incredible piece of technology! I’m glad GE was the one to come out with it.
Ideal for a developing country. Hope we can scan Heads,chest and abdomen and soon apply for obstetric care.
If GE is looking to do some studies in the ER I would love to be a part of that. I work in an academic ER in Jamaica.
how much this ultrasound,thanks
more than excellent,pls send me the price of this ultarsound
I was told that the image quaity is far superior on the new GE VSCAN than the seimans P10.
With that being said its all image quality based to me IMHO.The better the image the easier to spot the problem.
I would like to see some image bank studies and single frame and cine data online to look at the quality.
Also this unit should retail out a lot less than Seimans P10 which is about 10K.I have to say under 5K for this unit makes it more available to most health providers for POC (point of care).
how much this ultrasound’and how i can get it?
its a welcome innovation. please can you u send me the full details of this pocket size scan and how much it will cost to acquire.
thank you
Fascinating technology but in the US,how do you suppose it would work? We get no reimbursement to justify the probably exorbitant price it will carry. If it has the capability of doing full echocardiography and generating a report, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is priced at over $20,000. If it doesn’t then our reimbursement codes have no place in them to justify the cost.
From the liability standpoint, it places the primary care physician at the same standard as the board certified radiologist in interpreting imaging.
I truly congratulate you for your technical innovation, but until our health care system is revamped to the point where the reimbursement process and liability situation are remedied, I just don’t see the practicality.
Review hand carrier cardiovascular ultrasound systems including ratings from our community at:
http://www.echochief.com/echochief_echo_gear.php
Tim Thigpen
Editor
EchoChief
Now for the FDA to Submerg the device in red tape and paper work and GE to spend millions to satisfy the FDA requirements. What a waste of money to justify the use of a device which is a miniture version of existing technology. The FDA should pay 50% of the costs if the device is approved.
wooo!! where to buy ??
Hi!,
I am from türkiye.What is the price? When I can buy?Where to buy?
It is very interesting, how much does it cost …we want one too…
Need to evaluate and require more information. Kindly do the needful.
I sure wouldn’t want some dr do a ultrasound on me with that small screen…it’s scary to find any thing wrong with the size of the screen. Jeff I maybe when you are told you have cancer thye should your little device to tell you too.
It’s one scam after another!
Dear Sir,
a fantastic device,but one which i personally knew about in the mid 90s. My best friend,Professor, Richard Rzedzian who was involved in the development of the first M.R.I scanner and who lived in Lexington, Massachusetts told me that he had designed a scanner the size of a stethoscope.He had shown his design to others in the Boston scientific community and was urged to develop and market it. Unfortunately he had Pancreatic Cancer and died not long after. All his research and development info was on his Apple Mac and after his death his wife sold the computer because she could not remember the password. She has since moved back to the U.K.
felicidades cual es el costo? Vscan de tamaño de bolsillo, ultra-inteligente ecografía .
I would like to know the pricing and when is it being launched in India
is it available in india what is the price in india & price in USA what are the connectivity options
It will be the most WONDERFUL equipment we doctors will likely to use in near future. For Obstetrics & Gynecologists, Casualty medical officers, Physicians, Cardiologists, Surgeons…..every doctor needs it. Definitely, one day, it will be used as a “TORCH” to see abdominal organs.
I would foresee it will replace Doppler, we see in Labour room now. Mother can see her fetus along with the Doctor when ever she comes with complaint of decreased fetal movements or any other complaint.
IT WILL BE A DOCTOR’S MOBILE. I foresee Obstetricians doing ward rounds with Vscan (and not stethoscope) in their hand.
I would like to have one before I die.
Thanks GE for coming up with this one.
I want to know more about the Vscan.
Where can I get it. Wich is the price
Thanks
GREAT INVENTION PLZ PROVIDE MUCH MORE INFORMATION N PRICE OF VSCAN IN INDIAN CURRENCY N HOW TO BUY.
Please give me information about product (brusure) and How many Price?
plz send me price
how much it cost’s in indian currency?
congratulations, its fantastic!!
How much is this device? Where i can buy it?
It looks great. How much is the device please? Where do I buy it from. Thanks