Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)
Point-of-care ultrasound: bedside ultrasound in primary care, emergency and critical care, using handheld probes.
What point-of-care ultrasound means
Point-of-care ultrasound, usually shortened to POCUS, means ultrasound performed at the patient's bedside by the clinician who is treating the patient, rather than in a separate imaging department. The question is immediate and specific: is there fluid where it should not be, is the heart pumping as expected, is there a pregnancy, is a vein visible for access. A handheld probe suits that workflow because it can be carried to the bedside, the ward, the clinic room or the field, and the image is viewed at once on a phone, tablet or computer. The examination does not replace a full departmental ultrasound study where one is needed, and a point-of-care finding that is unclear should be followed up with a formal study.
Where handheld probes fit
Handheld probes are used in primary care, emergency medicine, critical care, obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiology, musculoskeletal work, vascular work, anaesthesiology, urology and veterinary care, according to the application areas published for this range. In each area the probe choice differs: a convex probe for deeper abdominal questions, a linear probe for superficial and vascular questions, a phased-array probe for cardiac questions and a transvaginal probe for gynaecological questions. The common thread is not the probe type but the workflow: a small device, a familiar display, and an image that can be stored in standard formats for the record. Before buying for a point-of-care programme, confirm which examinations the programme will actually perform, because that list determines the probe types needed.
Related pages: Portable Ultrasound Scanner · What Is Handheld Ultrasound · POCUS in Primary Care
Before you inquire
Before payment, confirm the exact model, probe type, frequency range, scanning depth, connectivity, battery specification, included accessories, minimum order quantity, lead time and price for your order in writing. The minimum order quantity and lead time figures quoted on this site come from the supplier's marketplace listing (for example, a listed minimum of 1 piece and delivery within 15 workdays) and are shown only as listed values to confirm per order, not as a fixed quotation. Certificates available upon request.