--- 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: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. 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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