Scanning for impact: how portable ultrasound is transforming military medicine

When lives are on the line in the chaos of the battlefield, every second matters – and so does every decision. For medics and military clinicians, access to real-time imaging can mean the difference between life and death. But traditional ultrasound equipment, while reliable in hospital settings, often isn’t built for the rugged, fast-moving environments where today’s military personnel operate.

Recognizing this critical need, Philips has done a field test with military medics using a portable ultrasound solution designed specifically for field use. The goal: bring stronger diagnostic capability out of the hospital and into the hands of medics at the point of injury.

It’s not just about innovation — it’s about readiness in any environment (no matter how rugged or austere), responsiveness and the power of smart, scalable technology to reshape military healthcare.

Ultrasound has long played a role in military medicine, particularly in assessing internal injuries without invasive procedures. But older machines are bulky, tethered to power sources and built for controlled environments — not combat zones. In contrast, the Philips Lumify handheld ultrasound devices, deliver hospital-grade imaging through lightweight probes wired to mobile devices.

During recent field tests, military medics worked with Philips to integrate Lumify devices in realistic combat simulations. The findings were clear: medics could deploy the device quickly, assess internal injuries, guide needle placements, define injury acuity and support more efficient triage decisions — all within the volatile window of time that makes the greatest difference.

Gil Smith, Government Business Development Leader for Philips, explains the critical need clearly: “The mission of military medicine is to keep the fighting force forward as active and as strong as you possibly can. What that means is…you're trying to keep [the patient] alive and [move forward] to the next level of care. So, portable ultrasound is the foremost decision support tool for the field medical staff.”

One of the greatest strengths of a portable ultrasound solution is its adaptability. Philips designed its Lumify platform with ease of use at its core – a lightweight, intuitive tool that fits in a backpack and boots up in seconds.

The supporting software includes preconfigured settings tailored to trauma scenarios, with fast access to common presets like eFAST (extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma), lung and cardiac imaging and vascular access. This reduces the cognitive load on medics operating under stress, enabling more consistent and accurate assessments.

Ed Higginbottom, Strategic Business Leader for Department of Defense Ultrasound at Philips, mentioned that “the sheer ability to be able to prioritize patient treatment and interventions early is one of the most valuable assets to [ultrasound] in a combat situation. But in non-hostile situations, it allows [medical staff] to perform more extensive exams that they might not otherwise be able to do.”

Portable ultrasound isn’t just about the device itself – it’s about the ecosystem surrounding it. Recent military pilot programs focused not only on usability in the field, but also on the ability to securely capture, transmit and analyze images. This allows real-time collaboration between frontline medics and remote specialists, offering new layers of diagnostic insight during missions and transport.

As Dr. Amy Rohs, Physician Clinical Champion, describes, “We have a very strong enterprise informatics group, and we are constantly striving to connect our devices together and do that in a way that's meaningful to the military environment. And we are [working towards] interoperability so that if you're Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines…you can pick up a piece of [our] equipment and it's going to work.”

The benefits of portable ultrasound reach beyond combat trauma. In military hospitals and VA systems alike, this technology is already making strides in primary care, women’s health, and chronic disease management. For example, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is being used to evaluate musculoskeletal injuries, detect gallbladder disease, guide joint injections and assess cardiac function – often avoiding the need for further imaging or referrals.

For deployed units and humanitarian missions, the devices are also a game-changer. Whether monitoring a pregnancy in a remote village or evaluating kidney stones in a forward operating base, medics now have the power to make the best lifesaving choices on-site, without relying on evacuation or limited imaging resources.

This flexibility is key for military healthcare providers, who often operate in environments where every decision must balance immediate clinical needs with long-term readiness and resource constraints. Says Smith, “The tools...are part of that information. They provide information [to make] an informed decision.”

While ultrasound has been around for decades, its transformation into a ruggedized, hand-held, intuitive and integrated platform marks a new chapter in military readiness. It’s a tool that helps providers see what they need to see, when they need to see it – and act decisively.

And as Philips continues to refine its technology and collaborate with military leaders, one thing is certain: the line between frontline care and hospital care is shrinking. That’s good news for the service members whose lives depend on timely, accurate diagnosis – and for the clinicians who serve them, wherever the mission takes them.

Learn about the Philips Lumify Rugged Kits