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Ultrasound
is a powerful diagnostic tool and
is often the first modality used to
image the patient. Its popularity
with the medical community stems from
its low cost, portability and noninvasiveness.
It is now among the single most asked
for procedure and there is a huge
installed base of ultrasound units;
in Pakistan alone it is estimated
that there are around twenty thousand
ultrasound units.
Ultrasound, despite its strengths
is very operator dependent and has
a long learning curve that involves
not only the assimilation of facts
but also mastering complex hand-eye
coordination and acquiring motor skills
that enable the user to acquire the
relevant "section". Hundreds
of cases need to be examined to achieve
a level of competency.
The current training strategies include
classroom teaching supplemented by
hands-on sessions on normal subjects
and patients. Hands-on sessions form
the most important component of training
but this is a situation that has several
ethical and technical limitations.
These problems can be overcome by
developing a device that simulates
various ultrasound scenarios in real-time
or near real-time. An ultrasound simulator
will provide hands-on training experience
to medical students, obviating the
need of having patients to practice
on.
In this project we are going to develop
an ultrasound simulator to augment ultrasound
training and do away the necessity of
hands-on sessions with patients.
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