The Butterfly iQ, a cheap portable ultrasound tool, may revolutionize medical ultrasound examination, and eventually become so common as a household thermometer as the author tells of, Jonathan Rothberg.

Recently, the Butterfly IQ got approval from US health agency for 13 clinical applications, including cardiac examinations, fetal and obstetric examinations and musculoskeletal tests. Instead of using large machines and monitors, the iQ works with an ordinary iPhone. The company says it will begin selling it in 2018, with an initial value of about 2 in.000 USD.