by: Ashmita Kalyanaraman
A medical ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique that is used to create an image of body structures such as tendons, muscles, joints, blood vessels, and internal organs. The aim of using an ultrasound is to find the source of disease or to exclude pathology. Ultrasounds are especially used on pregnant women in order to check on the baby’s health and development. A child’s
ultrasounds experience begins even before he/she is born. These ultrasounds are a very common piece of technology used by doctors to treat patients.
However, these ultrasounds are expensive, heavy, and big. One ultrasound machine can cost as much as $100,000. Many hospitals in developing countries and remote areas cannot afford to purchase these ultrasounds as a result of a lack of funding, even though they desperately need them. Recently, a Hand-Held ultrasound was created. The way it works is you plug the ultrasound into your phone through a USB and the imaging will be displayed on your phone. This new technology was highly welcomed by physicians all over the world as it promoted accessibility, fit into budgets, and still functioned splendidly.
Children all over the world are denied access to proper health care. One of the most common diseases that children experience is appendicitis. It is the inflammation of the appendix and results in immediate need for an appendectomy (removal of the appendix). This surgery can be expensive and without knowing if it truly is appendicitis, the surgery will not be performed. Now, the way to diagnose whether or not the child has appendicitis begins with using an ultrasound to diagnose the pain that they feel. Without an ultrasound, it is difficult to know if it is really appendicitis or if there is something bigger at play here. The point is that these hospitals needed a cheaper solution to acquire an ultrasound and now they have finally received it. They can diagnose This improves their ability to treat patients and saves many lives.
In conclusion, the hand-held ultrasound will truly be very beneficial to doctors all over the world as they use it to diagnose children, adults, the elderly, and babies. This ultrasound option will provide these hospitals with an accessible and affordable way to provide all patients with the best treatment!
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