How Portable, Compact Ultrasounds Can Enhance Patient Care, Provider Workflows

October 24, 2022 - Earlier this month, at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly, Philips announced that the FDA had given the company 501(K) clearance for a new compact ultrasound system, the 5000 compact series. This device may help streamline workflow and enhance access to care.

According to an article in Biospace, the ultrasound device market is expected to reach $12.5 billion by 2031. With this growing market comes advances to make the device more versatile.

LifeScienceIntelligence sat down with Matthijs Groot Wassink, General Manager of Point-of-Care Ultrasound at Philips, and Ann Marie Young Director, Product Manager, Point-of-Care Ultrasound at Philips, to discuss the portable technology and how it may impact the healthcare industry.

5000 Compact Series Overview

LifeScienceIntelligence began by asking Wassink and Young to explain the purpose of this kind of ultrasound. “This machine is used in critical care settings. Those settings are typically very cramped, with all kinds of equipment to provide the necessary urgent care. This is a relevant product for this space because of its footprint,” began Wassink.

He explained that having a smaller portable device that can function for multiple different specialties can reduce the necessary space required for these tools. Wassink also notes that despite the compact design, the quality of the ultrasound remains good.

“The team calls that ‘compact without compromise.’ The key here is that we have top-notch performance in the compact form factor that makes it perfectly deployable for those critical care settings,” he stated.

“From cardiology, vascular, abdominal, OB/GYN , we are launching the system ready to accommodate any patient ultrasound exam. So that's the power of the platform. That's what makes it unique. It doesn't just have one talent; it has many talents,” added Young.

Benefits of the Technology

During their discussion with LifeScienceIntelligence, Wassink and Young explained the multiple benefits surrounding portable ultrasounds. To start, Wassink explained that each specialty in a multidisciplinary healthcare facility would have its own dedicated ultrasound cart. However, in a point-of-care setting, you need each cart’s components.

Young and Wassink noted that the critical benefit of this compact ultrasound is its ability to be multifaceted when needed in these critical care settings.

Speed

Young also noted that a significant benefit of this imaging technology is the ability to get fast results.

“My team and I do a lot of investigation when we're developing a platform in the interface. We want to focus on efficiency and ease of use, which is critical in these scenarios. These physicians need to get answers fast,” began Young. “The goal is to improve the time they spend on the machine, whether it's pushing buttons or trying to get the best image they can to get that diagnosis.”

In an attempt to enhance the speed of diagnosis, Young mentioned that the device allows providers to combine multiple controls in just one button. “It's reducing the control panel, making it easy to use, with fewer steps. And then, secondly, you want a fast system,” she shared. “So when a physician pushes a button, you want a fast response. And that's what the latest architecture will do in this platform. It's a high-speed, responsive system.”

Optimization

In addition to the device’s speed, Young and Wassink highlighted its ability to be customized based on its facility. “Philips can design the system around the environment it's in or for multiple physician types,” asserted Young.

She explained that customization is multifaceted. First, there are multiple versions the company customized for settings OB/GYN, point-of-care, and cardiovascular specialties. Besides these numerous versions, providers and healthcare executives can alter the interface to suit the facility’s needs.

Healthcare Accessibility

LifeScienceIntelligence asked Wassink and Young to explain the benefits of portable ultrasound on healthcare accessibility.

“This is not the cheapest system of all, but there are a few things there that make it a little bit more accessible,” shared Wassink. He highlights that the main feature of this technology is called Collaboration Live. With this feature, clinicians can collaborate or communicate with other experts in the field.

“Access in this perspective is more about enabling the training of community centers, more than anything else, to improve access,” he noted.

Managing Costs

Wassink noted that the cost–benefit of ultrasound technology is significant. “Ultrasound, in general, is a beneficial diagnostic tool. There’s been a huge growth of ultrasound in the point-of-care space. And this is exactly addressing the rising need in that space for reducing the length of stay, identifying complications earlier, better patient outcomes, etc. So yeah, I think this does a lot to the overall healthcare system,” he claimed.

An article published in National Ultrasound notes that the average cost of an ultrasound machine can vary based on multiple factors, including brand, model, functionality, application, and age. That said, each ultrasound can cost between $20,000 and $200,000.

Aside from the benefits of ultrasounds, versatile ultrasounds that can conduct many tests can be an additional cost reduction. Young also shared that “the bigger facilities have ultrasound systems in critical care, emergency medicine, radiology, and cardiology. But in the settings Philips is focused on, they can afford one machine. And they need a system that can do everything well. They'll buy one system. Affordability is a big thing. The fact that they could buy one instead of five machines and place them in different areas — one system that can do every exam type — would be beneficial from a cost perspective for these types of settings.”

Looking Ahead

While the practical applications of this device are not yet well understood, researchers may consider monitoring its effects on workflow and patient care as it is deployed. This device may have a greater buy-in for smaller rural facilities, so a detailed financial analysis should be done while considering the purchase.

As biotechnology and medical devices continue to evolve, healthcare professionals, payers, and other stakeholders will continue to monitor how new iterations of this technology will improve workflow, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness.