A Point-of-care Ultrasonography Simulation System for Educational Use in Non-Stationary Medical Environments

Background

Given recent advances in size, durability, and cost, the use of portable ultrasound systems has expanded within the prehospital environment. Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) describes focused diagnostic ultrasound exams performed at the patient’s bedside, providing real-time information to guide proceeding clinical management. POCUS is an invaluable tool for patient evaluation, but presents with unique operational challenges when used in prehospital environments such as ambulances and medical helicopters. POCUS is operator dependent, so the process of obtaining and interpreting images can be affected by the vehicle movement encountered in these prehospital environments. As such, it is crucial for prehospital clinicians to be able to learn and maintain POCUS skills within their own unique work environment. However, existing ultrasound training systems do not properly account for the dynamic environments faced by prehospital clinicians, limiting their use by prehospital clinicians.

Technology

Stony Brook University researchers have developed a POCUS simulation system tailored for educational use in dynamic prehospital settings such as ambulances and medical helicopters. The system is configured to compensate for movement, allowing the probe to report its true orientation in relation to the target and enabling the display of an appropriate image in mobile environments. The technology permits the simulation of diverse scenarios, providing learners the ability to practice obtaining and interpreting point of care ultrasonography exams while in their own unique work environment.