Cardiac ultrasonography over 4G wireless networks using a tele‐operated robot

Abstract

This Letter proposes an end-to-end mobile tele-echography platform using a portable robot for remote cardiac ultrasonography. Performance evaluation investigates the capacity of long-term evolution (LTE) wireless networks to facilitate responsive robot tele-manipulation and realtime ultrasound video streaming that qualifies for clinical practice. Within this context, a thorough video coding standards comparison for cardiac ultrasound applications is performed, using a data set of ten ultrasound videos. Both objective and subjective (clinical) video quality assessment demonstrate that H.264/AVC and high efficiency video coding standards can achieve diagnostically-lossless video quality at bitrates well within the LTE supported data rates. Most importantly, reduced latencies experienced throughout the live teleechography sessions allow the medical expert to remotely operate the robot in a responsive manner, using the wirelessly communicated cardiac ultrasound video to reach a diagnosis. Based on preliminary results documented in this Letter, the proposed robotised tele-echography platform can provide for reliable, remote diagnosis, achieving comparable quality of experience levels with in-hospital ultrasound examinations.

Feasibility of a 5G-Based Robot-Assisted Remote Ultrasound System for Cardiopulmonary Assessment of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019

“…Image Current ultrasonic robot technology has made considerable advances, and rich experience has been accumulated through many clinical applications. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]33 Studies have indicated that the quality of images captured by robot-assisted remote ultrasound systems correlate well with those captured by conventional ultrasound. [34][35][36] Robot technology has been reported for assistance in the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases previously, [37][38][39] but the application of a 5G-based robot-assisted remote ultrasound system for use in lung disorders has not been reported to date.…”

“…11,12 Over the past 20 years, advances in computer networks, multimedia, and communication technologies have led to the development of remote ultrasonic robot technology for clinical applications, and a wealth of experience has been accumulated in abdominal, cardiac, pelvic, obstetric, vascular, and thyroid examinations. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] The lack of contact requirement and continuous improvements in safety performance have led to its application for examination of patients with COVID-19 in isolation wards, as it can help to protect examiners against viral infection. In the current study, a 5G-based robotassisted remote-operated ultrasound system was used for remote examination of patients with COVID-19.…”

Medical Robotics for Ultrasound Imaging: Current Systems and Future Trends

“…Coarse translational positioning of the robot is handled by a human assistant, while fine adjustments of probe orientation are remotely controlled by the expert sonographer via a haptic device with force feedback. MELODY has already been used for cardiac [ 14 ], abdominal [ 15 , 16 ], obstetric [ 15 , 17 •], pelvic, and vascular telesonography [ 15 ] in over 300 patients.

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Review of Advanced Medical Telerobots

“…In this regard, teleoperated surgery has been widely investigated and commercialized. Yet, telemedicine applications also include various new remote services (whose interest grows during pandemics), such as a simple consultation or an expertise with a specific healthcare professional, telemonitoring/diagonosis [9], or an assistance for a particular procedure or examination [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19], over telecommunication networks.…”