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A prototype handheld ultrasound device made from the battery of a remote control car and other cheap parts is powerful enough to sear flesh in seconds and could be used by paramedics to cauterize wounds or treat cancer according the the Wired Blog.

The device's inventor suggests that such a tool might be carried by soldiers on the batlefield to cauterise wounds and by doctors to treat cancer.

"We use low power ultrasound to enhance drug delivery to cancer cells in the brain. By using acoustic pulses from our device, we essentially agitate the spongy brain matrix and enhance drug uptake at the tumor site." George Lewis, the device's inventor

There are lots of drawbacks and side-effects from such an approach which will need to be addressed before a device like this could be used in practice. But DARPA has asked for proposals for such a device to find and seal deap wounds in the body.

Wired Blog