Reviews and News on Ultrasound Machines

Medical innovation and technology is always evolving. For example, in 2005, a doctor by the name of Scott Dulchavsky conducted a reach project on the International Space Station (ISS) that involved teaching astronauts how to use a portable ultrasound machine, while they were on a space mission. With the help of doctors at the base, the astronauts were able to diagnose some of their own medical issues. This research project benefited and inspired more improved medical equipment technology, in the following years, both on the ground and in space. In fact, the original ultrasound machine that was aboard the ISS was recently replaced with a more advanced piece of ultrasound machine equipment that is called the Ultrasound 2.

The Ultrasound 2 is a much smaller and sufficiently more sophisticated and capable piece of medical equipment. The chief engineer in charge of flight systems implementation for the Ultrasound 2, Joe Gensler, says that the machine is more advanced than its predecessor and it can run a series of self-diagnostic tests. The actual prototype for the Ultrasound 2 was GE’s Healthcare Vivid q. However, it was tweaked to meet orbit flight standards. The device is linked to a video convertor that produces real-time ultrasound images that can be viewed and evaluated by a medical ground crew.

The features of the Ultrasound 2 are much more current and in-line with the current technology that is available today in larger hospitals and more modern medical facilities. Because the new machine has so many features, it was necessary to provide a more depth instruction for usage than with the previous device. Features include improved resolution, enhanced color imaging, panoramic scanning, smart-depth, and 2D and Doppler imaging. Another added advantage of this particular machine is that it was mobile and did not have to be mounted. The Ultrasound 2 was successfully used in space for the first time in August of 2011, and it is planned to be used aboard the ISS through the year 2020.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Portable Ultrasound, portable ultrasound machines, Ultrasound Machines, Used Medical Equipment

In 2005, a Detroit-based trauma surgeon by the name of Dr. Scott Dulchavsky, began to study the use and effectiveness of ultrasound machine technology in outer space Since astronauts in space had no access to doctors or other medical professionals during a space mission, Dr. Dulchavsky’s ultimate goal in the study was to provide a way for the astronauts to assist in diagnosing their own medical problems. Based on his research, he concluded that ultrasound machine technology would be effective in diagnosing approximately five hundred various health problems that could occur while astronauts were traveling in space.

While it is true that there are a variety of diagnostic imaging machines that are available, ultrasound machines are by far, the most lightweight, compact, and transportable, making them ideal for places with a limited amount of space such as spaceships. Another advantage to using ultrasound machines in this capacity is that imaging results are delivered instantly, unlike traditionally x-rays, where there is a waiting period to develop the x-ray. Ultrasounds are able to find a problem quickly.

The test was conducted by NASA aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the project was called ADUM (Advanced Ultrasound in Microgravity). Although the astronauts used in the study only had about four hours of training using the ultrasound machine equipment, with the guidance of medical experts on the ground, they were able to use the machines with little effort. The images were then broadcasted back down to the ground for doctors to evaluate.

This study provided an important gateway for non-medical, average people to use ultrasound technology interactively with medical professionals to obtain necessary diagnostic medical information. Is was an important breakthrough since it could later be used in various other situations, like in ambulances, sport team locker rooms, rural areas, and on battlefields.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Portable Ultrasound, portable ultrasound machines, Ultrasound Machines, Used Medical Equipment