Butterfly Medical is expanding the use of its Butterfly iQ hand - held ultrasound device in the remoter areas of Africa , Asia and Latin America , where X - ray machines , CT and MRI machines may be a long distance from the patient . The Connecticut firm is backed by family philanthropies including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation . Scanners , which are the size of an electric chair , have been donated to charities in 12 low - income countries . The device is currently used mainly for pneumonia checks but other uses are being developed .
Butterfly Network is expanding the use of its Butterfly iQ hand-held ultrasound scanner in the remoter areas of Africa, Asia and Latin America, where X-ray machines, CT and MRI scanners may be a long distance from the patient. The Connecticut firm is backed by family philanthropies including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Scanners, which are the size of an electric razor, have been donated to charities in 12 low-income countries. The device is currently used mainly for pneumonia checks but other uses are being developed.