Healcerion, based in South Korea, was the first company to receive FDA clearance for their wireless, app-based ultrasound system back in 2015. The groundbreaking work done by South Korean engineers and scientists laid the foundation for the development of an ultrasound transducer that works with most smartphones or tablets. Since introducing the SONON 300C convex transducer, the company has been making progress to further advance this branch of ultrasound devices. Their latest, the SONON 300L linear transducer, weighs only 13 ounces (370 grams) including the battery, and features color doppler mode for easier musculoskeletal (MSK), vascular, small parts (breast, thyroid), lung imaging, and much more.
The SONON series can be used to connect and transmit through Wi-Fi as well as 3G/LTE, so doctors always have an Internet connection, even in many remote regions of the world. Its size, weight, and capabilities, along with the three hour scan time make it perfect for emergency and everyday use. The FDA approval for SONON 300L shows that app-based ultrasound is continuing to move forward. While it cannot yet replace conventional full-size ultrasound systems, it’s important to remember that computers used to take up whole rooms too, but now smartphones are even more powerful than those behemoths once were.
Healcerion CEO, Dr. Benjamin Ryu said, “A pediatrician from Africa recently told us that when imaging a 2 month old baby, they found hydrocephalus, fluid buildup in the brain. The doctor took an image she captured with our system and sent it to a neurosurgeon through WhatsApp, who then determined that surgical intervention would be required to remove the fluid. This example shows the true potential of our system for telemedicine applications and beyond.”
Here’s more about the SONON device being used in Africa:
Here’s an instructional video explaining how to use the device:
Product page: SONON 300L…
Flashback: Healcerion SONON 300C, an FDA Approved Ultrasound As Small as a Transducer…