VScan: GE's answer to the Siemens P10

Maybe it's not fair to call it the Acuson P10, but 2 years ago Siemens offered something very similar to GE's recently FDA-cleared handheld ultrasound device and to say it's been successful would be a great exaggeration. But this unit with its iPod-like interface may be different.

The unit gets an incredible "WOW" factor because of its size and potential. However, as with the P10, in theory it's an excellent idea that would provide doctors with a great tool for diagnoses when time and portability are critical. In reality, unfortunately common sense does not always prevail.

The problem? Reimbursements. A doc or hospital isn't going to be tremendously excited about buying something they can't bill Medicare for... particularly when you can get a slightly larger ultrasound, such as the SonoSite Titan, Mindray DP6600, or GE LogiqBook XP for a few bucks more... AND there are no strings attached when billing for usage of these machines... which makes it a potential profit-center or break-even deal. Sure it's a great tool in tough situations for exams such as abdominal, cardiac (adult and pediatric), urological, fetal/OB, pediatric, and thoracic/pleural motion and fluid detection.

Even though GE is two years behind Siemens, they have the advantage of being a market leader, and the advantage of timing. GE will the press right now, a time in which the demand is increasing for handheld devices. Here's a good article from Medgadget, one of my favorite information sites

Quoted from http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2010/02/ges_vscan_worlds_smallest_portable_ultrasound_now_available_worldwide.html

GE's Vscan, World's Smallest Portable Ultrasound, Now Available Worldwide

GE Healthcare is finally releasing the much awaited Vscan pocket sized ultrasound. Many in the industry hope that this device offers a chance for physicians to make a move from stethoscopes to portable imaging devices, bringing advanced visualization to any examination room. The unit weighs one pound and is only 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide and 5.3 inches (13.5 cm) long, offering both standard black and white imaging, as well as colored blood flow doppler. GE is touting Vscan's size and capabilities for cardiologists to transthoracically view myocardium, pericardium, and heart valves, and for primary care physicians, as well as OB, ER, and others, to scan the liver, kidney, aorta and peripheral vessels, babies in the womb, and anything else the transducer can penetrate.

And here's a YouTube Link to a GE Vscan introduction from last year:

handheld ultrasound,portable ultrasound,ge ultrasound,Acuson P10,GE VScan,anesthesiology,cardiac surgery,cardiology,critical care,Emergency Medicine,Military medicine,ob/gyn,peditatrics,radiology,surgery,vascular surgery

Comments

[Robert Sadaty]

Can you bill Medicare if the patient comes in with abdominal pain and you do an on the spot U/S of the GB? I think not but I don't know for sure.

[shelley henson]

I have and ER physician that enjoys using our much larger portable ultrasound maching. How much is this pocket size version Vscan?

[Glenn]

Why can't you bill using this Ultrasound? If a diagnosis can be made with this ultrasound then I see no reason why it does not suffice.

[JD, MD]

I'm going to get one. 8G is a lot, but I think it's a reasonable price for X-ray vision. You can always bill for it indirectly via critical care time.

[Maria Sef]

Could I Have an expert's opinion on the following subject? is Aloka A6 superior inferior or the same with GE S5 as to the quality of image and reliability? (for cardological use in a private practice)
Thank you.
MS

[Tom]

It comes with a removeable 4 gb Micro SD card, so I would imagine that the images are available. You may need appropriate software, like PACS to view.

At $7900, I'm tempted to pick one up. I have no intention of billing with it anyway.

[S. East]

This really does have the WOW! factor going on. Question: are the images downloadable? Would I be able to ship it by email to another Doc?

[Andy]

Can someone tell me or direct me on the power consumption of Acuson P10 or GE's VScan ultrasound? I am doing a research on development a charge station for these units for the remote sites. however I can not find any information on the power consumption. such as the wattage of the unit or the battery voltage and mAh.
Thank you.