Smartphone based Ultrasound imaging : Is it revolutionary?

Mobile smartphone based ultrasound imaging system or MobiUS SP1 has hit the market. It is innovation in the right direction but is it practical?

What is it ?
MobiUS SP1is a smartphone based, mobile ultrasound imaging system based on a Toshiba TG 01, which you know, was the first ever 1Ghz smartphone featuring Qualcomm's snapdragon processor and Windows mobile 6.5.
Essentially, it is a mobile phone converted into an ultrasound imaging device by stripping it off of its calling and texting features and connecting a USG probe capable of looking deep into your body. The TG01's SoC has more than enough processing power to churn up crisp images produced by ultrasonic frequencies of the probe, which range from 3.5 -12 MHz for this particular model.

What it is not?
It is not a gadget or add-on for smartphone enthusiasts. It cannot be used with your own TG-01. It is specifically directed towards the medical community to be used in the health care system. You have to buy the complete system, which includes the TG01 and the transducer.
It cannot make phone calls, It cannot send text messages. It is not the first mobile USG system, It is not the cheapest either. But it is a combination of both. Yes, the cheapest mobile USG imaging system with wireless data exchange capabilities at the moment.

Modified Toshiba TG01
Toshiba's flagship smartphone of its time has been modified by Mobisante, the company behind this innovation, to fulfill the demands of a reliable medical imaging solution.
So the TG01 they've used isn't a phone anymore, cause it cannot make calls and send or receive text messages but still retains wireless data exchange features over Wifi and 3G to share the USG results for remote expert opinion.
We suspect that this would be a software modification rather than a hardware modification on the TG01's part.

Here are the official specs provided by the company's website:

Display: 4.1" WVGA (800×480) touch screen
Dimensions: 5.1" x 2.75" x 0.4"
Weight: 11.6 oz
Image Resolution: Up to 480×480
Image Size: ~ 250KB as .BSX or ~42KB as JPEG
Touch Screen User-Interface
Imaging Presets, Plus Optimization: Gain – Near, Mid, Far; Depth, Scale, Intensity, Contrast, Text annotations, Arrow, Measurements
Image storage: 8GB (+32,000 images) or optional additional storage up to 32GB Cine: up to 6 secs, ~4MB
Share Images: Email or USB cable to PC
Network Connectivity: WiFi or cellular
Battery: 1300 mAh +, continuous scan time > 60 min
Patient Data: First name, Last name, ID, DOB, Picture
Cold Start: 45 seconds, instant on
PC Viewer software: Included, compatible with Windows 7, XP, Vista, free download
Supported Transducers:
3.5 and 5.0 MHz — Abdominal, OB/Gyn, Guidance procedures 7.5 and 12 MHz — Vascular, Small organs
Standard Configuration in Soft Case:
Smartphone with 8GB Micro-SD memory card, one transducer, USB cable, power cord, gel, Quick-Start Guide, Operator’s Manual
Price: 7,450 US$

Practical applications:

• Theoratically it can be used instead of any USG machine but practically, who would use such a machine?
• In our humble opinion, The best use of such a system  is in a disaster situation or in case of a major emergency where you need to cut the costs as well as establish mobile and sometimes remote medical camps to conduct immediate relief operations.
• Qualified Emergency Responders can use such devices to do simple diagnosis at the site of an accident, as well as send diagnostic data about the patient to the hospital to help them prepare in advance. It can prove to be an efficient smartphone based telemedicine system.
• Ideally, such a system should be in the pocket of every ER doctor all around the Globe. It has the potential benefit of immediate diagnosis without the un-necessary delays of booking the radiologist in an emergency trauma situation.

"Mobisante is a privately held, US based, company in Mobile Health services industry, developing point-of-care diagnostic solutions based on smartphone and web-based cloud service."