Handheld Ultrasound is Growing Fast

Handheld ultrasound is changing where and how imaging is delivered. As these devices become more portable, affordable and widely used across clinical services, the need for robust quality assurance is becoming increasingly important.

Point-of-care ultrasound is no longer limited to traditional radiology or ultrasound departments. Handheld devices are now being used in emergency medicine, critical care, anaesthetics, primary care, community services, obstetrics, vascular access, musculoskeletal services and many other clinical environments.

That growth brings clear benefits. Handheld and point-of-care ultrasound can support faster decision-making, real-time imaging at the bedside and care closer to the patient. NHS Supply Chain has highlighted handheld and POCUS systems as supporting earlier diagnosis, digital innovation and more care delivered closer to home.

But as handheld ultrasound expands, governance must keep pace.

The joint BMUS/RCR guidance, Recommendations for specialists practising ultrasound independently of radiology departments: Safety, governance and education, explicitly recognises that POCUS equipment includes cart-based scanners, portable laptop scanners and handheld scanners. It also notes that the combination of low cost, multiple clinical applications and ease of use has led to a rapid increase in POCUS devices, bringing clinical benefits but also clinical risks if good governance is not in place.

The guidance is clear that governance should include maintenance and quality assurance of these scanners. It recommends that organisations maintain an up-to-date asset register, ensure regular QA checks are performed, and have procedures for acceptance testing, regular image-quality performance checks, regular QA checks, day-to-day equipment care and fault reporting.

This is where Multi-Medix is well placed to help.

Using the MM-1010 phantom, MULTI-Mode™ and the Multi-Medix app, teams can bring handheld ultrasound devices into a structured QA programme alongside cart-based and portable systems. This provides a practical way to check image quality, record results, track equipment performance over time and support compliance with local governance processes.

For handheld devices, the asset-tracking element is particularly important. These systems are small, mobile and often shared across departments. In a large hospital or Trust setting, it can be difficult to know where each device is, who is using it, when it was last checked and whether it remains part of a controlled QA programme.

A connected QA workflow helps teams maintain better visibility –  It supports not only quality assurance, but also asset management, fault reporting and safer day-to-day equipment governance.

The market is also continuing to grow. Grand View Research estimates that the UK handheld ultrasound devices market generated US$12.8 million in 2024 and is forecast to reach US$19.7 million by 2030, representing a projected 7.4% compound annual growth rate from 2025 to 2030.

That growth makes the governance challenge more urgent. As more handheld systems enter clinical use, quality assurance cannot remain an afterthought.

With the MM-1010 phantom, MULTI-Mode™ and the Multi-Medix app, healthcare organisations can introduce a more objective, repeatable and trackable approach to handheld ultrasound QA.

This helps teams:

• Bring handheld ultrasound devices into a structured QA programme
  • Record QA results consistently
  • Track performance over time
  • Support asset management and equipment visibility
  • Identify potential image-quality issues earlier
  • Reduce reliance on subjective checks and manual paperwork
  • Support safer, better-governed ultrasound services

Handheld ultrasound is helping imaging move closer to the patient. Multi-Medix helps ensure that quality assurance moves with it.

To discuss handheld ultrasound QA for your organisation, arrange an on-site demo or request a callback here.

Find out more about MM-1010, MULTI-Mode™ and package options here.