As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present unique challenges to routine health care around the world, an Israeli startup has launched a new device that allows pregnant women to perform ultrasound scans at home, limiting the need to venture out to a hospital or doctor's office.
The PulseNmore device docks with a smartphone and uses advanced navigation and AI tools, as well as an app, to guide users through the scanning process.
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Physicians or sonographers can use telemedicine platforms to review the scans offline or in real time and reassure parents that all is well, or instruct them on appropriate next steps, if any are warranted.
Israel's largest health care provider, Clalit Health Services, has signed a multi-year agreement to purchase the device, which it plans to provide to tens of thousands of its pregnant members.
"At home tele-ultrasound scanning is a major leap forward in digital medicine and prenatal health," said Dr. Elazar Sonnenschein, Founder and CEO of PulseNmore.
"We have successfully miniaturized the traditional ultrasound system to create a solution that is both affordable and accessible for expectant families. According to Clalit, pregnant women pay 'false' visits to the emergency room more than twice on average with concerns about their baby's well-being. Our solution provides vital information to healthcare providers to determine if a baby is healthy, helping expectant mothers have peace of mind at home and avoid unnecessary visits to the ER," Sonnenschein explained.
Head of Clalit's eHealth Division Leor Wolff said that "In today's connected world, women and their partners want and deserve to know about the well-being of their baby without having to visit the emergency room. PulseNmore makes that possible."
Wolff said that Clalit physicians reviewed more than 1,300 self-scans in its initial study of the PulseNmore device, and in 95% of the scans has been able to see fetal heart activity, movement and amniotic fluid.
"We are confident that PulseNmore's device will support our healthcare professionals during COVID-19 and beyond," Wolff said.
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