|
Introduction
Ultrasound Imaging has been used for
30 years in medicine. It has the advantage
of being inexpensive and safe whilst
generating real time images. In conventional
2D ultrasound a hand held probe is
used to acquire greyscale images,
known as B-scans. Due to the free
hand nature of ultrasound, training
is a time consuming process. It requires
the development of proper hand eye
coordination as well as the experience
to properly interpret the grey scale
images generated by an ultrasound
machine. Currently several methods
are used for Ultrasound training.
• The most basic training method
uses ultrasound machine on individuals.
These are either fellow students or
patients being examined. The main
disadvantage of the system is the
availability of patients, burden on
patients and the inability to view
predetermined pathologies. Patients
with specific pathologies appear randomly,
and depending on the rarity of the
pathology it can take some time to
actually encounter a specific pathology.
• Another training method involves
using an ultrasound machine on ‘phantoms’.
These are physical devices containing
different substances which can produce
images in response to sound waves
generated from probe. With this approach
the trainees can view the results
of 2D ultrasound display and can practice
interpreting the observed picture.
This method is again limited by the
number of pathologies available; each
predetermined pathology requires a
separate phantom.
• Other training methods display
the results of pre-recorded scans
via video, textbook or computer media.
All of the above
mentioned training methods have their
limitations, particularly when it
comes to providing students with hands
on experience and diverse patient
pathologies that are essential to
help a student properly utilise the
capabilities of an ultrasound.
A real-time, computer-based ultrasound
training simulator overcomes the drawbacks
of other ultrasound training systems
by providing real-time simulation
of ultrasound images on a mannequin.
The system enables a trainee to perform
an ultrasound examination on an artificial
patient. The advantage of this system
is that it is interactive, providing
the opportunity to explore the anatomy
as if the patient was actually present.
There is no limited perspective or
view, as in video- or computer-based
training systems. The trainee can
practice performing ultrasound examinations
in conditions very similar to real
life, learning the eye–hand
coordination technique used during
a real ultrasound examination as well
as having the option to diagnose different
pathologies.
After extensive research the major
issues we have identified that need
to be solved to effectively implant
a real-time simulator are
1) Removal of excessive burden from
patients during data acquisition.
2) Image generation and reduction
of overall image volume.
3) Effective storage of image volume
and memory management
4) Image registration
|
