Doctor diagnoses his own cancer with an app
Dr. John Martin managed to diagnose his own cancer through a smartphone app.
He was testing an iQ ultrasound device - pioneered through a company called The Butterfly Network - which he believes could revolutionize healthcare everywhere.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE BUTTERFLY NETWORK, DR. JOHN MARTIN, SAYING:
"... I noticed a little fullness in my neck, and I was going to ignore it, as physicians typically do. But I realized I had an entire imaging system in my hand, so I took the probe, put it up to my neck and looked down at the phone, and there was my cancer. So I had a cancer and I diagnosed myself. I'm patient number one with the Butterfly."
The iQ unit works in tandem with a smartphone app.
It's reportedly the first handheld, whole body ultrasound system - which makes medical imaging accessible and affordable.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE BUTTERFLY NETWORK, DR. JOHN MARTIN, SAYING:
"It allows you, actually not to be a medical device, but it's a time machine. It conquers time. I got my diagnosis right away, it sped up my treatment, it reduced the amount of treatment I needed because I had a diagnosis early."
One-half to two-thirds of the world's population has no access to imaging, according to the World Health Organization.
Thousands of U.S. doctors have already adopted it since its 2018 launch.
Across the Atlantic, Dr. Jonny Wilkinson has also been using the iQ in Northampton General Hospital, in central England.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) INTENSIVE CARE CONSULTANT AT NORTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL, DR. JONNY WILKINSON, SAYING:
"Getting a cart-based device to a patient who needs an ultrasound scan or imaging set in a hurry is extremely difficult. One that you can just simply take out of your pocket, plug in and you're ready to scan has absolutely revolutionized the way that I care for my patients."
The iQ has a price tag of around $2,000, over 20 times cheaper than traditional machines.
For the future, the tech will be enhanced by augmented reality potentially paving the way for a giant leap forward in health care provision.
