dDopp

Marc Henri Van Anderlecht

A diagnostic ultrasound at the point of care

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

dDopp is a computer based ultrasound imaging system with a Doppler feature. Information for this product was provided courtesy of the WHO’s 2016 Call for Innovative Health Technologies for Low-Resource Settings.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Africa, South Asia, Latin America

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

RAFT, CERTES, Mondial Sante, Uni-Com

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

12,800-16,000 USD

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Bloom Standard Automated Ultrasound Machine, Clarius Ultrasound, and GE VScan Pocket Ultrasound

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Health care providers in rural health facilities.

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

dDopp was developed and is mass produced by Uni-Com medical located in Belgium. dDopp comes in a range of brands including the dDopp (initial design), dDopp RollKey and dDopp RollTouch.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Trademarked

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Customers can contact the manufacturer via online contact form to request a quote and user information. The product is also packed with a user manual and technical manual.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Power supply type

Continuous, Recharging only, None, Other

100-240 V 50/60 Hz, 12 V battery, cigarette lighter, or solar power

Consumables

Ultrasound gel

Indispensable equipment for function (Y/N)

Windows computer

Maintenance or calibration required by user at time of use? (Y/N)

Yes

Scanning modes

B-mode, M-mode, Pulsed Wave, Power Doppler, etc.

2D, B+B, 4B, M, Color Flow, Pulsed Wave, Power Doppler

Clinical application

OB, cardiac, urology, etc…

Fetal/OB, Abdo, Cardiac, Gynecology, Vascular, Urology, Endocrinology

Display

Computer screen

Probe frequency (MHz)

3.5 and 9

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

dDopp is an ultrasound system that can be used with a laptop computer to record, store, review, share and transmit images. The scanner is embedded in a tough countersink block of aluminum that also serves as a heatsink to cool the device. The scanner comes with dDoppSoft, customized software that can be installed on any Windows computer and is available in 9 different languages. The technology price includes the dDopp engine, 2 detachable probes, power supply, two li-polymer 12V batteries, waterproof USB cable, dDoppSoft, and a waterproof and shockproof case.

Scanning modes include B-Mode, M-Mode, Color Flow, Pulsed Wave, Continuous Wave, and Power Doppler. Other features include Trapezoid Imaging, Dual Imaging, Quad Imaging, and Compounding. The system is also equipped with scanning presets for common applications such as liver, kidney, and pancreas. Images can be stored on the computer’s hard drive and transmitted via email or DICOM server.

dDopp is equipped with 12 V and USB connectors. The device can be powered via a wall outlet, 12 V rechargeable battery (provided), 12 V car adapter (provided), or solar power. The battery life of the system is about 5 hours but varies depending on the scanning mode. It takes 5 hours to recharge the device using a 12 V battery and 8 hours when using solar power. The scanner automatically shuts off when the software is closed or after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Dimensions: 353 x 166 x 35 mm

Weight: 1.8 kg

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

The software includes an auto diagnostic feature that allows an untrained user to be remotely connected to a radiologist to perform the diagnosis. Otherwise, specific training and skill in ultrasound imaging are required to operate the system. The manufacturer provides training upon request and the packaging comes with a user manual.

The purchase of the system includes a two year warranty. There is no preventative maintenance required.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

The probes can be replaced after about 15 years and batteries when drained.

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

The estimated lifetime is 10-15 years. The dDopp does not contain any mechanical parts which extends its lifetime.

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Uni-Com set out to design an Ultrasound that is: easy, fast, and complete with general applications, and that meet the requirements of a color doppler ultrasound specifications

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

dDopp was incorporated into a study on the viability and potential of implementing a telemedicine network in Bolivia.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Réseau Africain Francophone de Télémédecine (RAFT), Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG)

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Do not store the scanner in direct sunlight. The machine was certified to be safe with a CE 0482 certificate in 2019 and an ISO 13485:2016 in 2021.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

The ultrasound requires a computer, battery, or electric power source to use the medical equipment.

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Vargas A, Ugalde M, Vargas R, Narvaez R, Geissbuhler A., 2014, “Telemedicina en Bolivia: proyecto RAFT Altiplano, experiencias, perspectivas y recomendaciones”, Rev Panam Salud Publica, 35(5/6), pp. 359–64.

Bagayoko, C.O., Niang, M., Traoré, S.T., Bediang, G., Naef, J.M., Geissbuhler, A., 2010, “Deploying portable ultrasonography with remote assistance for isolated physicians in Africa: lessons from a pilot study in Mali,” Stud Health Technol Inform, 160(Pt 1), pp. 554-8.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

The Ultrasound obtained a CE mark in 2019, ISO certificate in 2021, and DICOM compliant

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

dDopp was tested against the standard

Other information

A workshop was recently held by the Le Centre d’Expertise et de Recherche en Télémédecine et E-Santé (CERTES) in Guinea to train physicians on how to use dDopp.

Expert advisors have suggested that the price range for dDopp is pretty high for target setting. Designers should also investigate additional guidelines, such as the WHO Manual of diagnostic ultrasound. Designers should also take social factors into consideration, such as the use of ultrasounds for gender-biased sex selection in some parts of the world.

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Snapshot