Don't get any ideas now but Samsung has just filed a patent for a phone that can detect the chances of a lady getting pregnant. The phone calculates how far the lady is in the ovulation process, allowing them to know how safe it is to have sex. It would be very interesting to know what inspired such an idea.

The phone works by using a distance sensor (either laser or ultrasound based) to measure how far the ear is from the phone, and an infrared ray temperature sensor will measure process temperatures inside the eardrum.

The phone then translates the data taken from the ear to read the Basal Body Temperature of the body. The BBT data is essential in monitoring the cyclic ovulation of females.

It's a step safer than other measures for safe sex to be sure, but perhaps it wasn't wise to directly associate sex with a phone. Pavlov's dog effect will not bode well in this situation.

People may look toward a future that doesn't include having to submit themselves to large, intimidating medical equipment. Siemens has taken a good step toward this future, by unveiling the Acuson P10 ultrasound system. The two-piece P10 ultrasound device that has its own built-in display is small and lightweight enough for doctors to carry it around while doing their rounds. Doctors don't have to lug around heavy lap-top based portable ultrasound, nor will they have to move patients into the ultrasound room.

The device was previewed at World Congress of Ultrasound in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, where it received rave reviews from Emergency Physicians, Emergency Medical Technicians, and other critical care professionals.

The best thing about Siemen's new medical product is that it can be carried around everywhere, thus making it an essential emergency tool that can be stowed in the bag, ready for use. They also power on instantly, and can be used anywhere as long as there is a trained physician or medical personnel who can use the device properly. The Acuson P10 is scheduled for launch in the fall of 2007.

Ultreo has finally launched the Ultreo ultrasonic toothbrush - the latest weapon in the ongoing effort to further advance dental hygiene. While it's not exactly a revolutionary idea (sonic toothbrushes like Sonicare have been around for a couple of years now), Ultreo promises that this new toothbrush will bring about "the ultimate clean" with its combination of ultrasound waveguide technology and sonic bristle action.

According to its creators, Ultreo uses a tuned sonic/ultrasonic (over 20,000Hz) combo to clean teeth as compared to the more traditional sonic units that only use audible frequencies of 20Hz to 20,000Hz. The Ultreo also has a programmable replacement indicator that tells you to change brush heads every three months as well as a two-minute auto shut-off timer so that you can get more cleaning mileage out of it.

The Ultreo ultrasound toothbrush ships Spring 2007, dental hygiene addicts (which should be all of us) can pre-order one now for US$ 149.00.

Think you've seen the coolest USB device ever? We think again because this is IT! It's the plug-and-play USB Ultrasound Probe by Direct Medical Systems. The plug and play ultrasound probe system (Ppups) is a complete ultrasound imaging system built into a small USB-compatible probe for B-mode imaging. The probe captures images and sends them to a PC or laptop for processing. The Ppups comes in 3.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 12MHz for the most common ultrasound applications.

"Once FDA approval comes in the fourth quarter of this year the possibility for uses of the Ppups are endless, third world countries, ambulances, military, OBGYN, urology, dermatology, you name it," Mark Falkowski, President & CEO of Direct Medical Systems states. "This ultrasound can go anywhere and for a price anyone can afford."

The probe is priced at under $3,700. If only I could afford that thing we'd have lovely images of places where the sun don't shine posted with this article.