Use of Solar Power Production for Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Introduction:Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (US) has grown considerably in resource-limited and wilderness environments because of a combination of features, including portability, durability, and safety. However, the optimal method of powering US devices in such environments is not well established.Aim:This project has the following aims: 1.Develop a solar power generation and storage system that maximizes power capacity and minimizes weight while being easily transportable by a single person.2.Test the system in a real-world environment to evaluate actual performance relative to stated performance.3.Determine the approximate US scan-time where solar systems would outperform pre-charged batteries with respect to weight.Methods:We developed multiple solar collecting systems using a combination of polycrystalline, monocrystalline, and thin-film solar arrays paired with different powerbanks and tested them using a variety of US systems. From this, the duration of usage was calculated, which makes the solar power generation system a superior option to pre-charged batteries.Results:Lithium-ion energy storage was found to be superior to lead-acid batteries for multiple reasons, most prominently, weight. Several models of US systems were tested revealing that portable US systems consume between 30 to 50 watts. Tri-fold monocrystalline solar panels coupled with lithium-ion powerbanks provided the best combination of weight and transportability. Total weight of the combined solar array, powerbank, and US system is 10 kilograms and easily packs into a backpack carrier. It was found that systems using solar generating capacity become superior to pre-charged powerbanks in regard to weight at approximately 14 hours of scanning time.Discussion:While these results are not fully generalizable due to seasonal and geographic variability as well as the type of US system used, use of solar generating capacity to power US systems is optimal for extended durations of use in resource-limited environments.