What Is a Portable Ultrasound Machine?

A portable ultrasound machine is a medical imaging device that uses ultrasound for diagnostic purposes and is smaller and lighter than the console-style ultrasound machines that preceded them. In most cases, these mobile ultrasound systems could be carried by hand and in some cases even operated for a time on battery power alone. The first portable ultrasound machines arrived in the early 1980s but battery-powered systems that could be easily carried did not arrive until the late 1990s.

What Is a Portable Ultrasound Machine Used For?

Portable ultrasound machines are typically used in situations where space is limited, mobility is important, or the scanning must be done in the field. OB/GYN doctors were the first to start using portable ultrasound systems as these could be brought bedside or were affordable enough to be purchased by a private practice. Currently, portable ultrasound machines are used in Cardiac, Vascular, Radiology, Endocrinology, Pediatric, and OB/GYN applications. In addition, EMS personnel from several countries including Germany, Italy, France, and the United States have used portable ultrasound evaluations in the field.