Starfleet tricorder The Starfleet tricorder was the versatile , portable sensing device developed by Starfleet R & D specifically for use by Federation Starfleet personnel . Tricorders were outfitted with the latest cutting - edge sensory and emitter technology . Varying models of the Starfleet tricorder were put into service , beginning as early as the 23rd century through the 24th century , possibly lasting well into the 29th century . 23rd century . 2230s . In service aboard the early 2230s ship the , the tricorder was a large flat device resembling a briefcase , complete with a handle for carrying the device . " In the alternate reality , one was used to monitor the heavily pregnant ' s health during the " Narada " ' s attack . " ( ) 2260s . In service during the mid - 2260s , the standard Starfleet tricorder incorporated a segmented design . This tricorder , a generally square - shaped device , utilized three sections : a pivoting upper portion containing the display readout and controls ; a compartmented mid - section containing data chip s ; and an adaptable lower portion , sometimes containing a hand - held sensor as with the medical tricorder . The tricorder of the 2260s was mostly black with silver trim and featured a leather - like strap , allowing one to sling the tricorder over the shoulder when not in use . ( ) Yeomen serving aboard Starfleet starship s ( such as Janice Rand aboard the ) often carried tricorders in order to record and retrieve information for the starship captain . More often however , the tricorder was standard equipment included on away mission s . ( ) These devices could also be set to transmit an automatic distress call . ( ) One of the Dax hosts owned this version of the tricorder , remembered fondly by Jadzia Dax . ( ) A heavier version of the tricorder was also used by landing parties and aboard ship . This configuration sported a pistol - grip and its controls were located on the top of the unit . It was used primarily to detect contamination caused by ore s and gas es , as well as to register radiation and atmospheric pressure . ( ) 2270s . With the widespread redesign of many facets of Starfleet and Federation technology in the early 2270s , so too did the tricorder advance toward a new design . Smaller than that of the 2260s , the new hand - held Starfleet tricorder was blue - gray in color and featured two grips on either side of the body . Controls and readout displays were located beneath a lid at the top of the device . ( ) This type of tricorder was still in use in the 2280s . ( ) 2280s . As early as 2285 , Starfleet personnel like those serving aboard the refit starship " Enterprise " had at their disposal at least two distinct versions of the Starfleet tricorder . Type A . Among the options was a heavy - duty tricorder , often used during landing parties . Bulkier than previous designs , this tricorder featured a handle and a large head featuring a line of blinking indicator lights . ( ) Type B . Harking back to the designs of the 2260s , a second tricorder option in use during the mid - 2280s featured a familiar square , black and silver design . Much smaller than the heavy - duty version , this model featured a slide - up top studded with controls and indicator lights . Also incorporating a strap , the tricorder could be slung over the shoulder when not in use . Unlike its predecessors , this tricorder possessed control surfaces over much of the body of the instrument . ( ) 24th century . 2360s . By the early 2360s , the Starfleet tricorder had taken on a more streamlined appearance , distinguished by a flip - open design maximizing both portability and interface surface availability . Incorporating several sensor clusters , these tricorders featured multi - channel communications assemblies , and multiple databank modules . Encompassing visual displays and graphic touch pad interfaces , the tricorder of the 2360s provided easy means for on the spot archive retrieval , the recording of away mission events , and constant scientific measurements including biological , geographical or meteorological . TR - 560 Tricorder VI . Standard tricorder . In service as early as 2361 , the TR - 560 Tricorder VI model sensing device was available to officers serving aboard such vessels as the and the . With an array of sensors on the front of the device , this tricorder design flipped open to reveal a large number of control surfaces and a square display screen , roughly the same size as those utilized as early as the 2260s . Equipped with a small hand sensor , stowed below the sensors , the TR - 560 tricorder was capable of communicating with non - Starfleet computer systems , and were therefore vulnerable to some computer viruses , even capable of transmitting them to other systems . Gray in color , these tricorders were constructed with a durable casing , but could easily be destroyed by a phaser set to " disintegrate " . ( ) TR - 580 Tricorder VII . Standard tricorder . In service between 2366 and 2372 , the Starfleet TR - 580 Tricorder VII succeeded the TR - 560 Tricorder VI . Retaining the same basic shape as the previous design , the TR - 580s also incorporated hand sensors , but this feature was eventually phased out by 2370 . ( ; ) TR - 580s could be used for a variety of tasks , including recording time trials and playing holographic messages . This model featured a directory structure and built - in universal translator . This tricorder was also configured to perform proximity check s every two minutes and was able to emit a photoplasmic trail to help locate lost crewmembers . ( ; ; ) One version of the TR - 580 used by Jadzia Dax in 2370 featured a larger screen on the upper section . ( ) TR - 580s were capable of detecting dampening field s and if doors were magnetically sealed . ( ; ; ) To prevent interference with objects , the TR - 580 could be set to perform a passive scan . The model could also be locked into a continuous scan , thereby recording data , even when stowed . Capable of communicating with non - Starfleet computer systems , the tricorder could be linked to other units , acting as a small computer network , easily relaying information to other locations . ( ; ) Sensor emissions from TR - 580s could cause unpredictable changes in certain temporal distortion s , and sometimes included polaric field s , allowing a user to scan for subspace fracture s caused by polaric detonation . ( ; ) TR - 580s were stored in most equipment lockers aboard Federation starships though it was common for personnel to keep them in their quarters . ( ) Starfleet sometimes distributed TR - 580 model tricorders to Federation allied worlds , including Bajoran personnel on space station Deep Space 9 . They could also be used by civilians , and were shipped " en masse " to areas in need , such as disaster sites . ( ; ) The standard TR - 580 could function as a makeshift medical tricorder if necessary , although not all medical personnel were happy to do this . ( ; ; ) Individuals were instructed in the use of the TR - 580 by reading the tricorder operations manual . ( ) Red tricorder . A variety of the standard tricorder appeared in ' s sickbay in the year 2371 . Five tricorders of this type were included in little alcoves behind the three biobed s and to the left and right of the main entry to sickbay . ( ) In 2372 , these tricorders were replaced by PADD s . Similar tricorders were included in the same locations in sickbay aboard the in 2373 . Medical tricorder . Medical TR - 580s used were essentially similar in design to that of the standard TR - 580 , with the same available features and interface . The major difference was the addition of a deployable hand scanner . While some standard TR - 580s also had removable scanners , the medical TR - 580s were much more advanced and could provide detailed scans of an entire individual , or give focus to a single area . ( ) It was not necessary to use the scanner for the TR - 580 to function . The scanner could be separated from the tricorder , either to feed data to another source or not be attached to the tricorder at all . ( ; ; ) The medical sensor unit was also equipped with additional sensor ports . ( ) The TR - 580 medical tricorder was capable of recording audio . ( ) This medical tricorder is apparently incapable of performing accurate scans on deceased people . This can be learned during the first year of Starfleet Medical Academy . ( ) The 24th century versions of the medical TR - 580 were equipped with holographic imaging diodes . ( ) While the suite of sensors installed on medical TR - 580s was advanced , it was generally no substitute for the advanced and specialized equipment in a sickbay facility . ( ) Genetically - engineered microvirus es were not generally detected by a standard medical TR - 580 scan . ( ) TR - 580s could communicate with many Starfleet devices , including PADD s and starship library computer s . They were also designed to work closely with the surgical support frame s attached to biobed s . ( ) In conjunction with a neural pad , a medical TR - 580 could be used to link the nervous system of a healthy individual to that of an injured individual in order to stabilize the injured for transport . ( ) Medical TR - 580s could be configured to briefly disrupt a force field . ( ) 2370s . TR - 590 Tricorder X . Standard tricorder . Succeeding the TR - 580 Tricorder VII , the TR - 590 Mark X tricorder featured nearly identical control interfaces . The entire unit , however , was streamlined and made much smaller , featuring a more angular design . ( ; ) Functioning very much like the previous model of Starfleet tricorder , the Mark Xs were stored in most equipment lockers on board Federation starships . ( ) The Mark X tricorder could upload data it acquired remotely to a Federation starship . ( ) Discovered by the Maquis , the Mark X tricorder could be prevented from attaining credible readings when subjected to concentrated thoron particle s . ( ) The Mark X tricorder was reportedly heavy for its size as indicated by B ' Elanna Torres when she received a small gift from Tuvok during a holodeck generated baby shower . Torres asked if it was her child ' s first tricorder as the gift was small yet heavy . ( ) The Mark X tricorder could still function after being underwater . ( ; ) It could also function in hostile environments such as temperatures of 500 Kelvin , ( ) the upper atmosphere of a planet , ( ) and planets suffering nuclear winter . ( ) The upper component of the TR - 590 was capable of interfacing with a Starfleet desktop monitor and projecting a recorded image from the tricorder onto the screen . ( ) This tricorder was also able to access secured files on a 20th century computer . ( ) Despite being introduced in 2372 , Mark X tricorders were already in use on board the USS " Voyager " during 2371 . ( ) Medical tricorder . Introduced along with the Mark X standard tricorder , a medical tricorder variant was in use aboard Federation starships as early as 2373 . Generally identical to the standard tricorder , the medical featured a detachable hand scanner ( as in previous models ) that fit into the back of the unit . It was distinguished by blue ID indicator lights and a blue - glowing sensor surface . ( ; ; ) The medical tricorder had duritanium casing , and measured 7 . 6 × 9 . 8 × 3 . 2 centimeters , and featured an alphanumeric display . ( ) Wrist tricorder . A model of tricorder mounted in a arm / wrist brace was used in conjunction with holographic isolation suits during the Starfleet mission to the Ba ' ku planet in 2375 . ( ) 2379 . TR - 590 Tricorder XI . The TR - 590 Tricorder Mark XI was used concurrently with a new tricorder design that was also seen in 2379 . ( ) New tricorder . Introduced as late as 2379 , yet another iteration of Starfleet tricorder departed from the distinct , flip - open style preceding it . Distinguished by a slim , PADD - like appearance , the tricorder in use aboard such Starfleet vessels as the " Enterprise " - E in the late 2370s featured a large touchscreen interface . Silver in color , it was trimmed with black pads at the bottom and sides , with several buttons at the top . These buttons could be covered by a small hinged door , lined with indicator lights . Among common data - gathering tasks , this version tricorder could be used to interface with starship systems including force field control . The medical tricorder of the same make was identical . ( ) Alternate tricorders . Tricorders have appeared in various alternate timeline s . 2258 . In the alternate reality , the tricorder of the 2250s resembled its prime reality counterpart but was a smaller handheld device . used the tricorder to activate a cold fusion device in the heart of a volcano on Nibiru in 2259 . ( ) The medical tricorder in 2258 had a unique appearance consisting of a scanning rod and a handheld feedback monitor . ( ) The following year , it had been redesigned to resemble a general tricorder but with an white oval - shaped scanner that could flip out to examine subjects . ( ) 2404 . In a timeline erased due to the actions of Admiral Kathryn Janeway , a new version of the tricorder was in use by the year 2404 . An extension of the Mark X model , this tricorder featured the familiar hinged cover design , but contained more touch control surfaces in place of toggle switches . The casing was black or dark - gray . The medical tricorder variant featured a small antenna scanner . ( ) 2800s . During a possible version of the 29th century , the crew of the used a slim and sleek version of the tricorder , labeled a TR - 890 Tricorder XV . Seven of Nine was given a TR - 890 as she hunted for a temporal disruptor hidden on " Voyager " by Captain Braxton . ( ) In addition to the TR - 890 , a smaller , palm - sized device was in use during this period . Henry Starling found one aboard the " Aeon " and carried it with him at all times . He used it in an attempt to escape " Voyager " s transporter when the ship tried to retrieve the " Aeon " in 1996 . ( ) Background information . In 2012 , announced the SCOUT , which has been described as the real - life tricorder . The US $ 150 device can show one ' s temperature , respiratory rate , electrocardiography , blood pressure ( systolic , diastolic ) , stress and oximetry levels by scanning a person ' s left temple . , inventor of the , has set up a fund to make the tricorder a reality using quantum technology . Apocrypha . In the future 2400 ' s timeline of " Star Trek Online " , tricorders are shown to have a more hinged design reminiscent of the Mark VI through X designs , including removable scanners . To perform various tasks , Starfleet , Klingon Defense Force and Romulan personnel all use tricorders in conjunction with other equipment ( both worn and carried ) capable of projecting " floating " holographic interfaces .