In 1818, French physician Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec was inspired by children playing with tubes to communicate and listen to each other and, borne out of his frustrations with the traditional practice of placing his ear on the chests of his patients to listen to their breathing, he went on to invent the stethoscope.
It is hard to believe that a 200-year-old creation is still used daily in modern medical care, and yet, the ubiquitous stethoscope is so synonymous with the healthcare industry it is seen hanging around the necks of physicians in every corner of the world.
In a generation where we have seen the invention of home computers, the telephone, the internal combustion engine, light bulbs, atomic bombs, the internet, self-driving cars and space travel, the mainstay of a physician’s basic kit remains the same. Until today.
In 2021, Abdul Latif Jameel Health and Butterfly Network entered into a distribution partnership to bring the innovative Butterfly iQ+ ultrasound device to a potential 2 billion people in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and India. From underserved communities in the USA, to remote areas of Africa, more than 4.7 billion people lack access to medical imaging [1]. The Butterfly iQ+ is the world’s only single probe, whole-body, handheld imaging device which can help physicians in the field, in rural communities,
and in difficult medical situations.
Healthcare providers can collect advanced imaging, perform rapid assessments, and guide critical procedures, no matter where they are, and then share those images seamlessly with doctors across the globe to help with reading and interpreting scans.
The Butterfly iQ+ is democratizing healthcare, one scan at a time, a vision that is shared and supported by Abdul Latif Jameel Health.
According to Dr. Peter Weimersheimer, Vice President, Clinical Implementation, Butterfly Network Inc., who addressed healthcare professionals recently at the Arab Health conference in Dubai, UAE, in studies which assess the accuracy of clinicians doing assessment with a stethoscope, that accuracy is never 100%.
He said: “The reality is that most patient evaluations ultimately result in a test being ordered. There has been great diagnostic technology developed which has transformed modern medicine – the CT scan, the MRI, and now, the Butterfly iQ+.”
Fusing semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cloud technology, Butterfly has made it possible to usher in a new era of medical imaging and with it, healthcare from a device that costs significantly less in time and money, than current ultrasound imaging.
The product is designed to dramatically help trained practitioners who need to quickly assess a patient’s condition and provide clinical answers faster and has the potential to expand the capabilities of practitioners working outside of hospitals in developed, underdeveloped and remote areas.
Dr. Akram Bouchenaki, Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Latif Jameel Health, said: “At Abdul Latif Jameel Health, we believe access to health is a basic human right, and it is our mission to accelerate that access throughout the world. Utilizing technology helps us in achieving that mission, and Butterfly is an example of how a truly groundbreaking innovation can bring diagnostics to the patient, wherever they are in the world, quickly, efficiently, and seamlessly. The opportunities to improve health equity are incredibly motivating in driving us forward.”
For more information on the Butterfly iQ+: email butterfly@aljhealth.com or visit www.aljhealth.com.
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Disclaimer:
Within the Middle East and depending on the specific country, Butterfly iQ+TM is a Class IIa/Class B/ClassII/Class II/IIa portable ultrasound system designed for diagnostic imaging by trained healthcare professionals. Carefully read and understand all cautions, warnings and operational instructions prior to use.
