The Veterinary & Biomedical Education Complex.
By Kerrie DeMarco, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and Megan Palsa, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Established in May 2016 within Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Center for Global Health & Innovation is establishing collaborative activities between the Texas A&M University System and Royal Philips that will result in cutting-edge health and medical technologies.
One collaboration, between the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) and Philips, will be to determine the potential use of Philips’ Lumify mobile ultrasound technology in the veterinary world. This research will provide a valuable opportunity for both the CVM and Philips to work together and determine the effectiveness of the Lumify technology, while immediately enhancing the CVM’s imaging capabilities.
The Lumify mobile ultrasound technology consists of three different small, handheld ultrasound transducers that are hooked up to any Android device. The user pays a onetime cost for the transducer/s and then a monthly subscription to the technology and utilizes it by downloading the app to their Android device (tablet, phone, etc). This system is lightweight, portable, and the images can be shared immediately. The technology is offering significant advances to radiologic diagnostics and critical-response time and is currently being used for human application. Philips would like to expand its capability to veterinary care as well.
Over the next year or so, the CVM will evaluate the suitability of Philips Lumify for veterinary medicine in both small and large animals and will provide Philips with feedback that will allow for further product development. The Center for Global Health & Innovation will keep working with Philips to create innovative solutions to global health challenges and to establish collaborations like this one throughout the university system.