Point-of-care ultrasound is becoming more mobile.
With handheld ultrasound technology like the Butterfly iQ3, clinicians can bring imaging directly to the bedside using a compact ultrasound probe connected to a compatible smartphone or tablet.
For hospitals using Butterfly iQ3 with an iPad, that creates a simple but important requirement: the iPad needs protection without sacrificing access to its connections.
That is exactly the type of healthcare workflow the NK Shield Case for iPad is designed to support.
What Is the Butterfly iQ3?
The Butterfly iQ3 is a handheld point-of-care ultrasound, or POCUS, system from Butterfly Network.
Unlike traditional ultrasound systems that rely on larger dedicated equipment, Butterfly iQ3 connects directly to a compatible smartphone or tablet. Butterfly's Ultrasound-on-Chip™ technology uses a single handheld probe to support whole-body imaging, helping clinicians bring ultrasound into everyday patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
The third-generation iQ3 builds on Butterfly's previous systems with improved processing power, image quality and advanced digital imaging capabilities.
For healthcare organizations, the result is advanced imaging technology designed around mobility.
Why USB-C Access Matters for Butterfly iQ3 and iPad
The Butterfly iQ3 uses a wired connection to communicate with a compatible smartphone or tablet. That physical connection is one reason reliable access to the mobile device's port matters.
Butterfly's current iQ3 documentation specifically describes a workflow using a compatible USB-C Apple iPad.
Butterfly also offers a Mobile Device Charging Kit that allows a compatible USB-C iPad to charge while imaging with the iQ3. The configuration uses Butterfly's USB-C splitter to connect the iPad, iQ3 probe and power source.
That means a protective iPad case used in this type of clinical workflow should not obstruct the USB-C port or make connecting equipment unnecessarily difficult.
The NK Shield Case for iPad
The NK Shield Case for iPad was designed for healthcare and clinical environments.
It provides protection for the iPad while keeping important device functions accessible, including the ports clinicians may need for connected technology.
For hospitals using compatible USB-C iPads with Butterfly iQ3, that combination of protection and accessibility makes the NK Shield a natural fit.
Protect the iPad. Keep the port accessible. Stay connected to the tools clinicians rely on.
Protection Without Compromising Connectivity
A protective case should work with a hospital's technology, not against it.
For connected clinical devices, small design details can have a significant impact on everyday usability. A case that makes a port difficult to reach can add an unnecessary obstacle when clinicians need to connect an accessory or medical device.
The NK Shield takes a different approach.
With accessible ports, clinicians can maintain the physical connections their workflows require while keeping the iPad protected during everyday hospital use.
For Butterfly iQ3 users, that means the case can remain on the iPad while maintaining access to the device's USB-C connection.
Designed for the Reality of Hospital Technology
Hospital iPads do not spend their lives sitting safely on desks.
They move between nurses, clinicians, patient rooms, workstations and clinical environments. They may support charting, communication, patient education and connected clinical technology.
The NK Shield Case for iPad was developed specifically with healthcare and clinical use in mind.
For hospitals deploying mobile technology at scale, protecting the iPad is only one part of the equation. The case also needs to support the way the device is actually being used.
A Better Match for Mobile Point-of-Care Technology
Butterfly iQ3 represents a broader shift toward connected, mobile clinical technology.
The system combines a handheld ultrasound probe with the display and computing capabilities of compatible smartphones and tablets. Butterfly currently supports numerous Apple and Android devices, with Apple devices requiring iOS 17.0 or newer according to its iQ3 specifications. Hospitals should always verify their specific iPad model against Butterfly's current compatibility requirements before deployment.
When a compatible USB-C iPad becomes part of that ultrasound workflow, its protective case should support that connection.
The NK Shield Case for iPad delivers protection designed for healthcare while keeping the connections clinicians need accessible.
Because protecting hospital technology should never mean getting in the way of how clinicians use it.
Protect Your iPad. Keep Your Clinical Technology Connected.
Using iPads with Butterfly iQ3 or other connected healthcare technology?
Explore the NK Shield Case for iPad and discover device protection built around real healthcare workflows.
NutKase designs protective solutions for hospitals, health systems and clinical teams that need their mobile technology protected, accessible and ready for daily use.