The world of medical equipment is full of devices that sell for staggering prices when new, only to prove far simpler than we imagine. One such device is the Mediwatch Bardscan II, an ultrasound scanner that the Buy It Fix It channel acquired for less than 300 pounds. What did they find inside? A compact computer with Windows preinstalled, based on AMD's Geode chip with x86 architecture... and you know what that means...
Hardware enthusiasts and medical device manufacturers have clashed more than once. Many devices are pulled for absurd reasons, and every time enthusiasts request technical information, all they get is silence or legal threats. However, online marketplaces often grant access to very interesting devices, and that’s the case with the Mediwatch Bardscan II, an ultrasound scanner that Buy It Fix It found on eBay for less than 300 pounds.
From what I can understand in the video, the scanner was acquired to confirm whether a sheep is pregnant. From a technical standpoint, the Bardscan II is configured to scan human bladders, but the teardown didn’t take long. In addition to finding a thermal printer inside, Buy It Fix It discovered a fascinating detail: the platform is based on an AMD Geode chip, and all the software is loaded onto a CompactFlash card.
Hunting demons in an ultrasound scanner
The device wasn’t opened out of simple curiosity: because it couldn’t save the date and time, its CMOS battery needs to be replaced. Fortunately the design is modular, and the battery isn’t trapped in a block of epoxy or anything like that. The scanner’s main software clearly runs on an embedded version of Windows XP, unmistakable by the design of its windows and icons. Another interesting detail is that the bladder study is just one of several available for the Bardscan II, since there are files in its structure that reference kidneys and liver. With some basic modifications, Buy It Fix It managed to unlock additional functions.
But the best is saved for last... Doom. The device has no sound card, but I think the demo running on a CompactFlash card at full speed (the Geode chip has plenty of muscle) is more than enough.
Source: Hackaday
