GE CEO Jeff Immelt unveiled a hand-held ultrasound machine at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco last Tuesday called the Vscan, saying it could become the "stethoscope of the 21st century".

The device folds open clamshell-style to reveal a small screen on the top half and a circular button pad on the bottom. A small attached wand can be used to generate a non-invasive scan of a patient's organs or of a foetus.

The Vscan is aimed, in part, at primary-care doctors, who could use it instead of sending patients to get an ultrasound at a specialist's office. It could also be used by doctors in remote regions without access to hospital equipment.

'very digitally capable'

Immelt said the device, which will be available sometime next year, will be "very digitally capable" but that it will not have Wi-Fi access to wirelessly transmit ultrasound images.

The cost of the device is unknown.

During the summit, Immelt declined to elaborate on the possibility that Fairfield, Connecticut-based, GE will sell a stake in its NBC Universal entertainment division to cable TV operator Comcast Corp. or any other company. He said that GE is "comfortable" with the division.

- AP