--- title: FDA Approves a Smartphone-Based Ultrasound System description: This week, Washington-based health startup Mobisante announced FDA approval of its smartphone-based MobiUS portable medical ultrasound unit. The company called it a "world's first," according... canonical: https://time.com/archive/7142570/fda-approves-a-smartphone-based-ultrasound-system/ author: TIME Staff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2011-02-10T14:30:16.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-16T11:14:51.543Z article:section: Health og:title: FDA Approves a Smartphone-Based Ultrasound System og:description: This week, Washington-based health startup Mobisante announced FDA approval of its smartphone-based MobiUS portable medical ultrasound unit. The company called it a "world's first," according... og:url: https://time.com/archive/7142570/fda-approves-a-smartphone-based-ultrasound-system/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta4fd85e3a88f4adc/698a94cf9d83e8e599ba05d4/ultrasound.jpg?branch=production&width=307&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 307 og:image:height: 173 og:image:alt: 200349753-001 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: FDA Approves a Smartphone-Based Ultrasound System twitter:description: This week, Washington-based health startup Mobisante announced FDA approval of its smartphone-based MobiUS portable medical ultrasound unit. The company called it a "world's first," according... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta4fd85e3a88f4adc/698a94cf9d83e8e599ba05d4/ultrasound.jpg?branch=production&width=307&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) # FDA Approves a Smartphone-Based Ultrasound System > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Health Matters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Health Matters is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The latest health news and expert advice on living well. Health Matters makes the fast-moving world of health more useful, surprising and human, from the latest science and medical breakthroughs to practical ideas for living better. 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It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free weekday newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-health-2026q3/newsletters?i=142f1dd7-412f-4ef8-bbe0-e43e0f5afe1d&cr=time-nl-health-2026q3-v1) by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) Feb 10, 2011 2:30 PM UTC  Pregnant woman having fetal sonogram Pregnant woman having fetal sonogram Getty Images—(c) Lester Lefkowitz by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) Feb 10, 2011 2:30 PM UTC This week, Washington-based health startup Mobisante announced FDA approval of its smartphone-based [MobiUS](http://www.mobisante.com/) portable medical ultrasound unit. The company called it a “world’s first,” [according](http://www.fastcompany.com/1725155/now-smartphones-can-even-ultrasound-scan-your-baby) to _Fast Company_.more The mobile ultrasound system requires nothing more than the wand, some gel and a Windows Mobile-enabled smartphone. The entire system, including the software and phone, costs between $7,000 and $8,000 — which is significantly cheaper than the traditional ultrasound units found in hospitals. Given its pocket size, MobiUS should be especially helpful to remote and rural doctors who don’t have access to traditional equipment, or to doctors and emergency units working in the field. Having ultrasound images on a cellular and WiFi-connected smartphone also means information can be shared easily with patients or with other doctors for second opinions. One limitation is that the system works only on the Windows Mobile 6.5-based Toshiba TG01 smartphone. Mobisante says it’s working on making MobiUS compatibile with the HP Slate tablet. In other news, the FDA also just approved the first iPhone and iPad app — called Mobile MIM — for viewing medical images for diagnostic purposes. The FDA [announced](http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm242295.htm) last Friday: --- > “” --- For news on health care and mobile tech, check out the blog [MobiHealthNews](http://mobihealthnews.com/). **More on Time.com:** [Doctor’s Orders: Sex During Pregnancy Gets the Green Light](http://healthland.time.com/2011/02/03/sex-in-pregnancy-a-fine-combination/) [Prolonging Pregnancy: New Drug Helps Prevent Premature Birth](http://healthland.time.com/2011/02/08/prolonging-pregnancy-new-drug-helps-prevent-premature-birth/) [You’re Kidding! Medical Clown Increases Pregnancy Rates With IVF](http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/31/youre-kidding-medical-clown-increases-pregnancy-rates-with-ivf/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7142570/fda-approves-a-smartphone-based-ultrasound-system/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7142570/fda-approves-a-smartphone-based-ultrasound-system/"},"headline":"FDA Approves a Smartphone-Based Ultrasound System","datePublished":"2011-02-10T14:30:16.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-16T11:14:51.543Z","description":"This week, Washington-based health startup Mobisante announced FDA approval of its smartphone-based MobiUS portable medical ultrasound unit. 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