There’s no need to overthink it: While many healthcare startups find success through breaking ground and introducing revolutionary new technologies, others make just as big an impact by hewing closer to the basics. In fact, something as seemingly old-school as ultrasound technology continues to yield new avenues for patient care and accurate diagnostics—to say nothing of startup potential.
The ultrasound is, of course, nothing new, as anyone who has had a baby over the last several decades will readily attest. Ultrasound imaging is standard for maternal and fetal care, to say nothing of diagnostics for the bladder, kidneys, and more.
What might come as a surprise is how many new applications for ultrasound technology are being developed every single day. A recent MedScape report offers the surprising revelation that ultrasound imaging is now being used in both the diagnosis and management of carpal tunnel. Meanwhile, even controversial new approaches to ovarian cancer treatment hinge not on something brand new or technologically advanced, but simply on accurate ultrasound imaging.
Ultrasound imaging has plenty of other applications besides. For the elderly, who suffer from a higher number of musculoskeletal disorders than younger populations do, ultrasounds can provide an effective and non-invasive diagnostic tool. By the same token, the painless nature of ultrasound equipment makes it increasingly vital to pediatric professions.
What often goes unsaid about ultrasound imaging, however, is that it does require some maintenance—not just a skilled technician but skilled repair work, as well. Of course, very few health care practices can afford to hire a full-time ultrasound repair person, which is where some of the startup opportunities can be found.
There are ultrasound support companies such as Summit Imaging that have found success through its offerings in ultrasound support and transducer repair. As more and more medical practices and health systems come to rely on ultrasounds—not just for mother and baby care, but for a range of applications—companies like Summit Imaging continue to thrive, ensuring that this vital equipment is kept up and running smoothly and steadily.
It’s an avenue for enterprising healthcare companies to consider—not necessarily the flashiest entrepreneurial route, but one that’s yielding surprising dividends as ultrasound applications advance and proliferate.
