Barcelona, March 3rd 2015
Trice Imaging in partnership with Qualcomm Wireless Reach and SonoSite Fuji Film, has won the prestigious Global Mobile award in the category “Best Mobile Innovation for Health” at the 20th Global Mobile Awards by the GSMA.
This is such a thrill and a great reward for our team that has been working so hard to not only invent this novel technology but to prove its magnificence.
This recognition is important to the paradigm shift in imaging. We see two industries merge, medical devices and telecommunications. Getting the most prestigious reward in the world of telecommunications brings attention to the grand potential of Mobile Imaging.
Every day, around the world, approximately 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries and the rate is higher among women living in rural areas, and in poorer communities. Many high-risk conditions such as multiple pregnancies, placenta previa, abnormal fetal presentation and ectopic pregnancies can only be detected via an ultrasound
In a trial performed in Morocco, the Mobile Ultrasound Patrol Project equipped health care professionals working in resource-poor communities with a small, mobile ultrasound machine and Internet-connected mobile devices, allowing them to perform ultrasound exams on pregnant women and, within seconds, wirelessly transmit the images to a prenatal specialist anywhere in the world for a second opinion. This approach to early detection and treatment of placenta complications greatly increases the mother’s chances of a healthy, safe pregnancy.
The project resulted in reduced diagnostic review times from two weeks to less than 24 hours, and the cost fell from $80 to $2 per patient. It also increased the medical practitioner’s skills to deliver ultrasounds from 20% sufficient for diagnostic purposes to 92% sufficient for diagnostics.
The time and cost efficiencies gained, without any compromise in quality, improves the likelihood for early detection and treatment of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality which could, ultimately, reduce the number of maternal and child deaths.
“We are very proud of The Mobile Ultrasound Patrol Project. Using innovative but simple technologies to provide access to health care where it’s most needed and less available is paramount to Trice. We are committed to connect all imaging systems out there, linking patients with physicians and physicians with physicians closer together. Our partners in the project; Qualcomm, SonoSite and Sony have made invaluable contributions to the success. Having the project and our technology acknowledged by GSMA is an honor,” says Asa Nordgren, CEO and Co-founder of Trice.