Pocket ultrasound reaches milestone

Vscan, GE’s pocket-size, battery-powered ultrasound device, made a landmark achievement in December 2011 when the Ministry of Health of the Italian region of Lombardia (Lombardy) became the first governmental entity in Europe to order the device. The organization purchased 135 Vscans for use by general practitioners – an encouraging action because government orders can drive broader adoption of medical technology and devices.

Vscan provides black-and-white anatomic and color-coded blood-flow images in real time. According to GE, since its introduction in 2009 the device has been used by physicians to improve maternal and child care in rural Indonesia, by trained clinicians and cardiologists in remote jungle villages in east Malaysia and by emergency medicine doctors to examine athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Popular Science magazine gave the device a “Grand Award” for innovation in health in 2010.

Learn more about Vscan at http://vscanultrasound.gehealthcare.com.