5 ms·
The interesting question is who/what does the diagnosis. I've had my kids fall over a bunch of times (with a couple broken bones in there - never ambiguous, sad
by glangdale 9y ago
The interesting question is who/what does the diagnosis. I've had my kids fall over a bunch of times (with a couple broken bones in there - never ambiguous, sadly) and broken a couple bones in my life too (as well as done stuff that convinced me that something must be broken in there, when nothing was).
So I think there were essentially zero times when a cheap-hand-held ultrasound in that home would have added information. The question is really whether this could be enormously helpful to a GP? Can they be trained usefully to take over some of the role of an ultrasound technician and do first-line diagnosis? It'd be great to not have to do the standard schlep over to the diagnosis place, wait around, get the thing done, and wait to get the results back to the GP or specialist.
I imagine there's also a fair bit of computer "vision" work on this stuff too - I would presume people are working feverishly away on ways of reconstructing 3D imagery and actual diagnoses of an image via computer, as opposed to squinting at these mysterious pictures.
- JshWright 9y agoUltrasound is not terribly useful in the diagnosis of fractures. It can detect certain types of fractures in kids under 12 or so, but can't rule out a fracture. There are absolutely things a GP could use ultrasound for to rule in or out various diagnosis. A GP doesn't really need a "pocket" ultrasound though. A "normal" ultrasound would work just fine.
- rsingla 9y agoI'd be curious as to what the payment model for a GP to own a conventional ultrasound machine would look like in Canada, the US, and the UK. It's my understanding that the pocket ultrasound at it's price point would essentially pay itself earlier on while serving a purpose of being a triage tool. Given the size and cost of a conventional cart-based machine, I think the pocket one is more well suited.
- viraptor 9y ago> The question is really whether this could be enormously helpful to a GP? Can they be trained usefully to take over some of the role of an ultrasound technician and do first-line diagnosis? This is likely healthcare system / country / training dependent, but yes, many local clinics will have ultrasound equipment. GPs do use it for things other than emergencies (simple pregnancy checkup, ultrasound guided injections, etc.) I know some that would find the "Can they be trained usefully" a silly/offensive question to be honest.
- kevinchen 9y agoCheaper, more portable, battery powered ultrasound would make the technology more accessible to developing countries. This will save lives eg from childbirth complications.