Department of Radiology, Ålborg University Hospital
The aqusition of ultrasound skills is becoming increasingly important for the modern diagnostician. An ultrasound trainee has to learn to move the ultrasound probe, adjust settings and to mentally integrate the real-time bi-dimensional images into a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the anatomical environment. Training to develop these skills has traditionally required hand-on exercises involving ultrasound equipment and a qualified instructor. Limited human and financial resources poses a challenge in that regard. The development of ultrasoundsimulators have sought to bypass the involvement of instructors. Ultrasound simulators are costly however and thus not readily available. To help trainees learn ultrasound skills more effectively we developed a simple inexpensive and easily accessible web-based interactive ultrasound atlas. The atlas serves to approximate the gap between ultrasound training using a traditional sonoanatomy atlas and hands on exercises. Utilizing interactivecine loops that combine video stills of probe placement/operator image and ultrasound scan images the user can familiarize with probe movement and control basic ultrasound functions: probe selection, doppler, gain, depth adjustment, focus and probe manipulation. Labeled cine loops with quiz mode allows rehearsel of sonoanatomy. The continual addition of sonoanatomy regions is available as is user controlled creation of anatomical labels. The atlas can be accessed through desktop PC, Apple Machintosh, touch tablets, and smartphones. We present the first iteration of the interactive ultrasound atlas exemplified by basic ultrasound of the abdominal aorta.
