Innovative Transducer Expands Emergency Cardiac Ultrasound

A new portable transducer frees physicians in emergency care situations of time and mobility restrictions incurred by locating an available ultrasound cart.

The Royal Philips (Philips; Amsterdam, The Netherlands) S4-1 is a pocket-sized and lightweight point-of-care (POC) cardiac transducer for the Lumify platform, the Philips smart-device portable diagnostic ultrasound solution. Smaller than a smartphone, the S4-1 transducer and cable together weigh just 152 grams. The introduction of the S4-1 expands Lumify into ambulatory use, with clinical applications expanded to include a full offering of in-demand cardiac, abdominal, thoracic, and OB/GYN imaging.

The S4-1 transducer offers Lumify advanced high-sensitivity and high-resolution, two-dimensional (2D) image quality, along with new exam pre-sets, which allow clinicians to triage and assess their patients for faster, informed decisions. And beyond integrating with everyday technology, such as off-the-shelf compatible smart devices, Lumify uses cloud-enabled technology to connect with picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), shared networks, and system directories. Data is accessible on the Philips HealthSuite Digital Platform, an open and secure, cloud-based IT infrastructure.

“Our vision for smart-device ultrasounds is focused on putting high-quality devices in the hands of more professionals to serve more patients in more locations,” said Randy Hamlin, POC business leader for Philips Ultrasound. “With the S4-1 transducer and clinical pre-sets, Lumify is further extending the reach of ultrasound by delivering exceptional image quality, now for routine cardiac exams, and creating better connections between clinicians and their patients.”

“Lumify is a game-changing innovation,” said emergency ultrasound physician John Bailitz, MD, of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP; Irving, TX, USA). “The affordability, flexibility, and versatility of Lumify make it appealing to those working in emergency settings, and now with the S4-1 cardiac probe and FAST exam pre-sets, we can conduct critical exams at the point-of-care, resulting in more efficient triage of patients.”

The Philips Lumify is a complete, portable ultrasound system intended for a range of specialties and settings. The system is supplied with two transducers and a scanning app that controls several types of ultrasound scans under a monthly subscription plan that includes not only the device and app, but also an entire healthcare ecosystem dedicated to care delivery. Real-time automatic app updates include rollout of new features as soon as they are developed.

Related Links:
Royal Philips
American College of Emergency Physicians