A paper in The Lancet of June 7 1958 by Professor Ian Donald, Tom Brown and John MacVicar triggers the biggest revolution in diagnosis since X-rays.
Unlike X-rays, the Glasgow ultrasound machine carries no radiation risk and, unlike other experimental ultrasound models, does not involve the patient getting into a bath. The bright idea from Professor Donald is supported by Tom Brown, a young engineer with Kelvin Hughes.
The Glasgow model proves safe, simple to use and cheap enough to be affordable by hospitals in the developing world.
Its initial success was unlocking the secrets of the womb – showing how babies grow and develop. But refined over the years, it now helps diagnose a vast range of diseases and gives images in 3-D, colour, and, with portable models, virtually anywhere.