London’s Air Ambulance trials pocket-sized Vscan

London’s Air Ambulance doctor Dan Roberts uses GE Healthcare’s Vscan.

Five pocket-sized visualisation devices that can help physicians identify fluid presence and other life threatening conditions have been trialled by London’s Air Ambulance charity.

For an eight week period, GE Healthcare’s Vscan, roughly the footprint of a smartphone with ultrasound technology, enabled London’s Air Ambulance team to non-invasively inspect the inside of patients’ bodies prior to transport,  assessing the presence of fluid, potentially speeding up clinical decisions and enhancing survival prospects.

Research and development lead Professor David Lockey said:  “London’s Air Ambulance prides itself on delivering medical innovation to increase the survival and recovery of its patients.  We have used portable ultrasound devices before but the size and image quality provided by the Vscan has the potential to make a difference to our patients.”

See the full report on page 7 of the October 2012 issue of RAD Magazine.