Ultrasonography Training Simulator

Abstract

　Ultrasonography is used in many clinical fields because it is a noninvasive examination with no risk of radiation exposure and can acquire images of various parts of the body from any angle. Although ultrasonography is difficult to master because it depends on the examiner's ability, the problem is that adequate training is not provided. Ultrasound equipment and phantoms, which are human models used for training, are very expensive, and the time available to students is limited, so training during school is rarely provided.

　To solve this problem, we are developing a simulator that provides more practical training for ultrasound examinations. In this simulator, a probe-type controller that we have developed is moved by the user, and body markers indicating the examination position are displayed on the monitor screen as the user moves the controller. Ultrasound images corresponding to the positions of the body markers are displayed in real time to reproduce actual ultrasound examinations.

Fig.1 Ultrasonography Training Simulator Overview

Configuration

　Probe self-position and posture estimation are required for real-time screen display in response to controller operations. In this model, the position is acquired with a rotary encoder and the attitude with an IMU. Omni-wheels are used for the wheels to enable movement in any direction, and a magnetic ball joint enables the probe to be tilted to the angle required for ultrasonic examination of the abdomen. Doctors and technologists at Teikyo University School of Medicine cooperated in impression evaluation experiments and gave a high evaluation of the probe-shape controller.

Fig.2 Probe-shape Controller

Fig.3 Software Configuration

Demonstration

Documents

Akari Yamada, Yurina Sugamiya, Keigo Momoi, Atsuo Takanishi:"Development of Ultrasound Simulator for Beginners That Displays the Examination Position in Response to Probe Operation",The 40th Annual Conference of the RSJ, 4J2-02, 2022．