At Zebra Medical, we’ve long championed the transformative capabilities of the Butterfly iQ+™ handheld ultrasound probe. When it comes to medical innovation, the proof is in the testimonies of those who wield the technology day in and day out. Don’t just take our word for it – here’s what your fellow healthcare professionals have to say about their experiences in the field.

“Our team in Nelspruit has used the Butterfly IQ+™ since August 2023 and we do around 500 POCUS scans with it per month. We use it for a range of POCUS guided procedures, as well as diagnostic POCUS, in both the Emergency Centre and Critical Care units and its portability allows us to easily travel with it between hospitals. It is especially useful to be able to generate worksheet reports on the App in real time and upload these along with still images and videos onto the cloud. The process of attaching the PDF report to my Electronic Medical Records is also a simple one. I have used the device on a range of patients, from neonates weighing 660 grams, to 100 year old geriatric patients. The Butterfly IQ+™ POCUS device has completely replaced traditional ultrasound machines in our unit.”

– Dr Stefan Basson, Emergency Physician and Hospitalist with ER Consulting Inc., Nelspruit.

“The chip-based technology is a game-changer. There are many handheld probes available but having one probe that can do the job of three probes is amazing. My favourite party-trick is the bi-plane view for vascular access. It’s the first thing I show someone when I want to brag about how versatile the Butterfly iQ+™ is. I also love the fact that if I accidentally drop it (which I have, many times!) you don’t knock out a Piezoelectric crystal and have to replace an expensive probe. Its durability is a real selling point.

I have tried other handheld probes that are wireless and broadcast their own wifi networks for your phone to connect to, and while the lack of wires is nice, the quality of the image and stability of the wifi connection is unreliable. With Butterfly’s wired connection the quality is always excellent and reliable.

In general, the build quality of the Butterfly iQ+™ is much better than other handheld devices I have used, and the app/user interface is far superior and much more intuitive. It is elegant and easy to use.

The best part of PoCUS with the Butterfly iQ+™ is how often it allows you to correctly change the management of a patient. A common presentation to our EC is a patient with multiple comorbidities (cardiac & pulmonary) and undifferentiated respiratory distress. A quick PoCUS with my Butterfly iQ+™ can reveal decreased left ventricular contractility on cardiac PoCUS and diffuse, bilateral B-lines on lung PoCUS. I can then confidently rule in acute heart failure and immediately begin treating the patient.”

– Dr James Porter, MBChB (UCT), MMed Fam Med (UCT), FCFP (SA) Family Physician, False Bay Hospital, Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness Senior Lecturer, Division of Family Medicine, Department of Family, Community & Emergency Care, University of Cape Town

“I’ve been using the ButterflyiQ+™ ultrasound device for a while now when I’m doing my clinical shifts. The biggest value for me is that the device is ultra-mobile, allowing me to quickly move between patients without the hassle of playing ‘musical beds’ with patients in an overcrowded emergency centre where it’s difficult to manoeuvre the big cart-based machines next to the patient. The Butterfly iQ+™ device also allows me to use different frequencies to assess various parts of the body without the need to change probes. It’s a single probe for whole body use.

On one of my recent shifts, I evaluated a 36-year-old female with a very atypical presentation of loss of vision, weight loss and a painful distended abdomen. She was HIV-positive and had stopped taking her antiretroviral medication. On examination, she had complete vision loss with multiple cranial nerve fallouts, but no meningism. Her left breast had a hard palpable mass. Her abdomen was soft and diffusely tender without signs of peritonism. On point of care ultrasound, she had bilateral pleural effusions, multiple lesions in her liver and spleen, and enlarged para-aortic lymph nodes. The clinical suspicion of breast cancer with metastases was confirmed with histology and a subsequent CT of the brain, chest and abdomen. The ultrasound images assisted in fast tracking the patient to appropriate definitive diagnostic imaging.”

See the scans for this patient on YouTube

– Dr Niël van Hoving, Emergency physician MBChB | Dip PEC (SA) | MMed (EM) | MScMedSci (Clin Epi) | PhD

“Love having my Butterfly iQ+™ ready and at hand at all times for vascular access. From central lines to arterial lines and even difficult peripheral lines! Whether I am in theatre, icu or the ward, I never have to wait for someone to bring the hospital’s ultrasound device, and I never have to fiddle with the settings on an unfamiliar machine!”

– Dr Charlé Steyl, Anaesthesiologist South Africa / Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

“Having the Butterfly iQ+™ has completely revolutionised how I practise medicine. In the ED I truly use it as an all-in-one, whole body scanner affording the power to assess and treat my patients much quicker and much cheaper! The Butterfly in my hand is my new super power!”

– Dr Ishe Mukoki, ER

“Air Rescue Africa makes use of the Butterfly iQ+™ as part of the standard equipment on all air ambulance missions. We have been using point of care ultrasound in the air for the past 10 years, but since introducing the Butterfly iQ+™ at end of 2022 it has made a tangible impact on patient care and clinical governance. The ease of use, compact size and versatility makes it the ideal portable device for air ambulance operations. Reviewing scans done by our clinicians are now easier than ever and has contributed significantly to strengthening our governance of ultrasound use.

We’ve had many instances where the devices assisted us in making a diagnosis or performing procedures in resource limited settings all across the African continent. Good examples being patients receiving ultrasound guided regional Anaesthesia for various limb injuries, in many cases then being transported pain free.”

– Dr Ulrich Carshagen: Lead Flight Physician, Air Rescue Africa

“We have been fortunate enough to use the Butterfly in our hospital. While we do have access to echocardiogram machines, they are big and bulky. The Butterfly has allowed us to perform point of care ultrasound at the patient’s bedside with ease. We have used it to look at patients’ ejection fractions whilst on ward rounds, allowing rapid diagnostics decisions to be made. We have also used it for real-time ultrasound guided taps and inter-costal drain placements for loculated effusions. All in all, it has been very useful to have access to the portable Butterfly ultrasound system as both an extension of our examination of patients as well as guiding our procedures.”

– Dr Hsin-Chi Huang MBChB (UCT), DipPEC(SA), FCP(SA), MMED (UCT)

“Cutting-Edge Butterfly Handheld Portable Ultrasound: A Game-Changer in Medical Imaging

As a modern medical enthusiast and user of medical technology, I must say the Butterfly handheld portable ultrasound is a revolutionary device that has truly transformed my practice. From its seamless connectivity to its remarkable imaging capabilities, this device has exceeded my expectations in every aspect.

First and foremost, the plug-and-play functionality of the Butterfly ultrasound makes it incredibly easy to use, allowing me to focus more on my patients and less on technical setup. The educational platform provided is simply outstanding, offering comprehensive resources that have proven to be invaluable in my day-to-day practice.

The user-friendly app platform further enhances the overall experience, providing intuitive controls and access to a wealth of features. Despite its advanced technology, the price competitiveness of the Butterfly ultrasound against other market competitors is truly impressive.

One of the standout features of this device is its exceptional battery life, which ensures uninterrupted usage throughout the day. The portability of the Butterfly ultrasound is also a game-changer, allowing me to conduct scans in any setting with ease.

I was particularly impressed by the accuracy and reliability of the measurements in the different presets, which are almost always straightforward and precise. The imaging quality, despite being microchip-based rather than crystal-based, is truly remarkable, offering clear and detailed visuals that rival traditional systems.

Furthermore, the device’s ability to be cleaned with almost any disinfectant is a major advantage for infection control, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment for both patients and healthcare providers.

While there are a few minor drawbacks, such as the time it takes to recharge the battery and the slightly subpar imaging compared to crystal-based probes, these are far outweighed by the numerous benefits of the Butterfly ultrasound. Additionally, my personal concerns about cable replacement have yet to materialise, as the device has proven to be durable and reliable during my trial period.

In conclusion, the Butterfly handheld portable ultrasound sets a new standard in medical imaging technology, offering unparalleled convenience, performance, and value. I highly recommend it to any healthcare professional looking to elevate their practice to new heights.”

– Dr. Elri du Preez, MBChB (UP) (Cum Laude)

“Two years have flown by, but it still feels like yesterday when the Butterfly iQ+™ probe changed my view of handheld POCUS (and my practice) forever. Of course it has its limitations, but I really like my Swiss Army knife of POCUS probes. If I need to be formally to-the-point – its compact design and portability enable point-of-care ultrasound to be seamlessly integrated into various clinical settings, enhancing accessibility and efficiency. It also makes itself indispensable. If I am required to see or review a referral and I don’t have the blue-butterfly logo bag swung across my shoulder I feel ill-equipped (almost like I have lost a limb), as I have grown so accustomed to being able to quickly assess cardiorespiratory, urinary and vascular (and often more complex) systems on the fly. Our registrars are also more and more frequently knocking on my door to use the device’s vascular access guidance, and at times they buddy up to do procedures where one would historically have been left to your own devices – just to be able to use the Butterfly.

Registrars from especially the surgical disciplines are nowadays very aware of the benefits of POCUS, but now only with their exposure to the Butterfly in our ICU they realise how wide its application can be. Together we have:

  • Ruled out (and confirmed complex) DVT’s in all number of places
  • Put in lots of difficult lines
  • Placed percutaneous drains
  • Aspirated collections
  • While waiting for mobile Xrays had the ability to decide between antibiotics, thoracocentesis or bronchoscopy (and being able to cancel those Xrays)
  • Made informed decisions regarding fluid management and administration
  • Avoided costly ICU admissions for dialysis
  • Etc. etc. etc.

The device’s current affordability makes “advanced” imaging technology now even more accessible to these young doctors and a wider range of healthcare providers, potentially revolutionising diagnostic capabilities in our constant resource-limited environments.

I still feel very humbled and grateful to have access to one of these devices and hope to be able to keep using it and spread the gospel to many others – on occasion there might be a significant find, but more often the small things you find out about your patients’ clinical status on an almost daily basis are those making the biggest positive impact on their care.”

– Dr Dawie Schoeman, Specialist Emergency Physician, Critical Care / ICU, Livingstone Tertiary Hospital

“Hi there, I’m Dylan Gibson and I’m a family physician working in Gqeberha. I have owned a Butterfly iQ+™ for three years now. I love how I can scan any part of the body without having to worry about switching probes – this means I can do a cardiac ultrasound and scan for a DVT in the same patient very efficiently. I find that the battery lasts a long time, the image quality is sufficient for me to get the information I need and the build quality is of an incredibly high standard. I find that it works well with a cell phone and the interface makes it easy to change presets, gain and depth intuitively. I worked in a district hospital here in Gqeberha for some time where we did not have access to ultrasound. During ward rounds I was able to scan for pleural effusions, DVT’s, cardiac problems and pneumothoraces using my Butterfly iQ+™ which avoided needing to refer patients for formal ultrasounds. Overall I’m happy with my Butterfly and would highly recommend it to anyone that does / wants to do POCUS regularly.”

– Dr Dylan Gibson, FCFP (WSU)