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Virtual Guidance Ultrasound: A Tool to Obtain Diagnostic Ultrasound for Remote EnvironmentsAstronauts currently acquire ultrasound images on the International Space Station with the assistance of real-time remote guidance from an ultrasound expert in Mission Control. Remote guidance will not be feasible when significant communication delays exist during exploration missions beyond low-Earth orbit. For example, there may be as much as a 20- minute delay in communications between the Earth and Mars. Virtual-guidance, a pre-recorded audio-visual tutorial viewed in real-time, is a viable modality for minimally trained scanners to obtain diagnostically-adequate images of clinically relevant anatomical structures in an autonomous manner. METHODS: Inexperienced ultrasound operators were recruited to perform carotid artery (n = 10) and ophthalmic (n = 9) ultrasound examinations using virtual guidance as their only instructional tool. In the carotid group, each each untrained operator acquired two-dimensional, pulsed, and color Doppler of the carotid artery. In the ophthalmic group, operators acquired representative images of the anterior chamber of the eye, retina, optic nerve, and nerve sheath. Ultrasound image quality was evaluated by independent imaging experts. RESULTS: Eight of the 10 carotid studies were judged to be diagnostically adequate. With one exception the quality of all the ophthalmic images were adequate to excellent. CONCLUSION: Diagnostically-adequate carotid and ophthalmic ultrasound examinations can be obtained by untrained operators with instruction only from an audio/video tutorial viewed in real time while scanning. This form of quick-response-guidance, can be developed for other ultrasound examinations, represents an opportunity to acquire important medical and scientific information for NASA flight surgeons and researchers when trained medical personnel are not present. Further, virtual guidance will allow untrained personnel to autonomously obtain important medical information in remote locations on Earth where communication is difficult or absent.
Document ID
20130000753
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Caine,Timothy L. (Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Martin David S. (Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Matz, Timothy (MEI Technologies, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Lee, Stuart M. C. (Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Stenger, Michael B. (Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Platts, Steven H. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 27, 2013
Publication Date
June 7, 2012
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-25846
Meeting Information
Meeting: Society for Vascular Ultrasound 2012 SVU Annual Meeting
Location: National Harbor, MD
Country: United States
Start Date: June 7, 2012
End Date: June 9, 2012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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