LARS Medical Inc. is developing an assistive semi-robotic arm designed to eliminate work-related injuries for ultrasound sonographers. To capture clear images during routine scans, sonographers must press an ultrasound probe into patients with continuous, high physical force for hours each day. Over time, this physical strain causes nearly 90% of sonographers to experience chronic shoulder, neck, and wrist injuries, forcing 1 in 4 into early retirement. When sonographers are injured and unable to work, hospitals and clinics face staffing shortages, expensive injury leave costs, and increasing patient wait times. LARS solves this problem by attaching directly to the ultrasound probe to act as a helping hand. The arm automatically offloads the pushing force while allowing the sonographer to keep complete manual control, natural grip, and full movement of the probe. By removing physical fatigue and pain, LARS helps sonographers enjoy longer, injury-free careers while ensuring clinics and hospitals keep their scanning rooms open, fully staffed, and running on schedule.
