Stork Healthcare Aims to Democratize Ultrasound Access by Slashing Costs from Millions to Tens of Thousands, Driving Adoption in Grassroots Healthcare
In a rustic farmhouse courtyard nestled among verdant hills and clear waters, with conical hats and chili peppers hanging on the walls, a primary-care physician was conducting disease screenings for villagers using an ultrasound device—this was the scene depicted in a promotional video by a renowned ultrasound manufacturer five years ago. It also represents the aspirational vision of countless professionals in the ultrasound industry: the penetration of ultrasound products into primary healthcare settings.
However, this vision has yet to be realized, as primary care physicians remain limited to the traditional trio of diagnostic tools: stethoscopes, thermometers, and sphygmomanometers. There is a significant gap in equipment allocation within primary healthcare settings. Taking the current status of imaging equipment configuration in health centers across Zhejiang Province as an example, the average number of color Doppler ultrasound systems per facility ranges from 1.4 to 1.6 units in central towns and stands at 1.3 units in small cities, whereas in underdeveloped areas, the average drops to merely 0.4 units per facility.
The underlying reason why imaging equipment has not been decentralized to the grassroots level is that primary healthcare institutions cannot afford large-scale medical devices.
Large-scale medical equipment is expensive and difficult for primary care physicians to operate. In recent years, the state has continuously increased investment in tiered diagnosis and treatment systems to strengthen primary healthcare. To truly “strengthen the grassroots level” and enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of primary care physicians, the miniaturization and portability of large medical devices have become a shortcut for decentralizing such equipment to the primary care setting.
The scenario of conducting ultrasound examinations in a rural courtyard, mentioned at the beginning of this article, was highlighted by Zhang Zhuo, CEO of Siduoke, during the Primary Healthcare Conference held in May. This scene touched many people in the industry. However, being moved alone is not enough.
Stork’s first-generation handheld ultrasound product features 32 channels, distinguishing it from competing compact ultrasound systems that typically offer only 8 or 24 channels. Built on its proprietary underlying algorithm platform, the technical architecture supports up to 128 physical channels. By leveraging independently developed GPU-based OpenCL for image data processing, the device ensures high-quality image transmission and enables the integration of advanced functionalities into its miniaturized handheld form factor.
Currently, Sidoco has developed four types of handheld ultrasound devices with different probes based on primary care needs. By miniaturizing and integrating the chips of large color Doppler ultrasound probes into handheld units, these devices can perform routine hospital examinations of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys. Additionally, they are suitable for examining superficial structures, such as the thyroid, breast, systemic superficial blood vessels, muscles, certain bones, the musculoskeletal system, and pediatric applications. Leveraging Wi-Fi/4G networks, Sidoco’s remote transmission system enables real-time image synchronization, supporting remote consultations with specialists within medical consortiums.
Since its inception, Siduoke has targeted two major markets: primary care institutions and clinical departments in large hospitals. “We aim to leverage our technology and capabilities to alleviate the apprehension that general practitioners and village doctors feel toward large, complex diagnostic equipment, helping them address fundamental healthcare needs and truly achieve the goal of managing minor illnesses at the village level and serious conditions within the county,” said Zhang Zhuo, CEO of Siduoke.
Equipping grassroots healthcare facilities has also benefited from favorable policy support. In September 2018, the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine formulated service capability standards for township health centers and community health service centers, requiring these institutions to enhance their service capabilities and improve service quality in accordance with the standards. Among the required equipment, color Doppler ultrasound and B-mode ultrasound are mandatory for Class A and Class B community health service centers, as well as for Class A and Class B township health centers.
There is clinical demand in the primary care market, but meeting this demand does not mean replicating the equipment and experience of tertiary hospitals.
“Primary care, as the gatekeeper of health, must manage a wide range of conditions. Its requirements for disease complexity differ from those of tertiary hospitals, necessitating products that can effectively address real-world clinical problems. Our product’s functional modules are designed to serve common diseases encountered in primary care settings,” said Zhang Zhuo.
During her speech at the Primary Care Summit, she cited an example illustrating how Sidoco develops products tailored to primary care settings. The incidence of thyroid and breast nodules has been rising year by year; even for benign lesions, significant medical personnel time is consumed annually by follow-up visits. In response, Sidoco has specifically developed an integrated diagnostic model for carotid artery examination for primary care institutions. This is because the carotid artery serves as a window for assessing systemic atherosclerosis and is a critical indicator for monitoring cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.
Conventional examination methods are relatively complex for primary care physicians and less experienced clinicians, requiring approximately eight to nine procedural steps. By integrating its three proprietary patents, Siduoke enables automatic measurement by placing the probe on the carotid artery, thereby generating automated reports.
These improvements yield multifaceted benefits. Zhang Zhuo stated, “On one hand, they enhance the time efficiency of examinations; on the other, they lower the threshold for accessing such services. For physicians at tertiary hospitals, this process facilitates more effective early disease screening, truly realizing the goal of ‘minor illnesses treated within the village or county.’ For patients, it enables early detection, timely treatment, and faster recovery, while also reducing healthcare costs.”
Having resolved the product’s functional issues, aligning it with the usage habits of primary care physicians remains a significant challenge. There is a shortage of primary care physicians, and most of them are not proficient in operating large-scale ultrasound equipment. In light of this, Siduoke has incorporated training and educational considerations for primary care physicians into its product design.
Zhang Zhuo introduced, “Our inspection equipment can project images onto mobile phones and tablets. By leveraging communication modules, these images can be transmitted to experts thousands of miles away. In addition to transmitting ultrasound imaging, we have added a small module that captures the operator’s posture. A small camera is used to determine where the operator’s hands are positioned and whether the technique is being performed correctly, thereby better facilitating remote diagnosis.”
Develop a three-screen synchronized transmission module. Sidoco aims to achieve practical implementation by connecting primary care physicians, specialists, and patients. This solution not only addresses healthcare delivery challenges but also tackles the continuing medical education needs of primary care physicians, leveraging remote expertise from specialists to comprehensively enhance their clinical skills and diagnostic judgment.
To design products that effectively address the challenges of primary healthcare, Siduoke continuously refines its offerings based on customer feedback. The company matches and evaluates existing technical modules against specific needs before proceeding with productization.
Zhang Zhuo described Siduoke’s product development process as “willful.” She stated, “Our ability to continuously adjust our products based on customer feedback and to ‘willfully’ experiment with adding new modules, regardless of cost, relies entirely on our underlying algorithms. Only when the underlying algorithms are robust enough can the development process become more streamlined, allowing for faster integration when incorporating additional features. This is all made possible by our substantial technical accumulation.”
In the interview, Zhang Zhuo jokingly referred to his team as an “outlier,” because while other companies in the same sector opted for a “downscaled” version of large-scale ultrasound systems for their handheld ultrasound products, Siduoke adopted a strategy of “transplanting” full-featured color Doppler ultrasound capabilities from the outset.
Within the Si Duoke team is a technical expert. As an ultrasound physician, she once asked her mentor a question: “Is my diagnostic accuracy due to my superior skills or to the capabilities of the machine?” Her mentor replied, “You should continue seeking the answer. Like a soldier, you must understand your weapon.” This perspective encourages a deeper understanding of the ultrasound industry from multiple angles.
In fact, achieving high-quality diagnostic outcomes relies equally on physicians and equipment; the two must complement each other.
Zhang Zhuo also frankly stated that during the trial process, Siduoke made trade-offs based on the actual conditions at the grassroots level.
Transitioning from an ultrasound physician to an entrepreneur in the ultrasound field, Zhang Zhuo candidly acknowledges that she is still a junior player in the industry with a long road ahead. Nevertheless, she remains firmly convinced of her assessment of the handheld ultrasound sector, as it not only addresses genuine clinical needs but also aligns with development trends in telecommunications, semiconductors, upstream materials, and other industries.