Tech & Innovation in Healthcare

Question: While watching a sports event recently, I was impressed by the quick reaction by the medical professionals tending to a profes­sional athlete that collapsed on field due to cardiac event. I’d like to have access to diagnostic tools in case an emergency arises during an outing or at an event I’m attending.

Do you know of any portable diagnostic tools?

Connecticut Subscriber

Answer: The way technology has made devices more powerful and smaller is impressive — from smartphones and activity trackers to smart stethoscopes. Medical devices are no different, and here are two examples of how technology has made diagnostic tools portable.

1. ECGs: Physicians can easily diagnose a patient’s heart condition on the spot with portable electrocardiograms (ECGs). Smart Heart Pro is one model that offers a 12-lead assessment with a chest-worn design. The device wirelessly connects to a smartphone or tablet, so you can receive an accurate readout of the patient’s condition in under a minute.

2. Ultrasounds: Another diagnostic tool that received a technological upgrade is the ultrasound. Handheld ultrasound devices allow providers to evaluate a critically ill patient and assess if the patient has experienced damage to their internal organs or are suffering from internal bleeding.