Scott Dulchavsky MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

J. Antonio Bouffard MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sishir Rao BA, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Alton Parker MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sevith Rao, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marnix T. van Holsbeeck MD, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, General Electric Company Consultant, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV

Douglas Hamilton MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ashot Ernest Sargsyan MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Shannon Melton, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The unique constraints imposed by training and equipment limitations in remote environments such as spaceflight requires the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to provide medical care in such settings. We are investigating the use of novel training methods and remotely guided ultrasound to diagnose injury in settings where physicians trained in advanced ultrasound techniques are unavailable.

Ultrasound technology can aid in the diagnosis of a wide variety of medical conditions. We developed methods to train non-physician operators to perform ultrasound examinations under the direction of a remote ultrasound expert. The information is transmitted to the expert team who then guides the operator in acquiring diagnostic quality images. A CD-ROM based instructional module was developed to enhance non-physician operator familiarity with fundamentals of ultrasound use. Performance tracking and timing were recorded for educational assessment.

Trainers from professional hockey, football, and baseball teams have used ongoing remote ultrasound guidance techniques to diagnose player injuries. Similarly, remote guidance techniques were used by the 2006 US Women’s Olympic Hockey team during training and competition in Torino, Italy. In addition, high school students have been trained to accurately detect foreign bodies in an eye ocular model, as well as perform remotely guided abdominal ultrasound examinations on human subjects.

Ultrasound is the only portable imaging device currently used in spaceflight and is an efficient and accurate diagnostic tool that can be used for remotely guided evaluation of terrestrial injuries. Minimally trained, non-physician operators can accurately perform diagnostic quality ultrasound in a variety of settings.

The techniques from our study can be used to improve medical care in remote locations, where access to physician operated ultrasound imaging is unavailable.

Dulchavsky, S, Bouffard, J, Rao, S, Parker, A, Rao, S, van Holsbeeck, M, Hamilton, D, Sargsyan, A, Melton, S, Remotely Guided Ultrasound for Diagnoses of Medical Conditions in Terrestrial Medicine.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5013375.html