Ultrasound handheld devices – potential problems and possible solutions

Ultraschall in Med 2016; 37 Most ultrasound (US) manufacturers offer handheld devices in addition to their more traditional larger midand high-end machines. The price of handheld devices is generally lower, but they may lack features like elastography, contrast agent imaging and biopsy guidance. An advantage of handheld US devices is that due to their small size they fit into the pockets of a physician’s lab coat. The smallest handheld devices are composed of a transducer with an USB connection to a tablet or a smartphone. This means that handheld devices could be available to the physician at all times while on duty. But is this setup sufficient for diagnostic use [1]?