Virtual reality training system for diagnostic ultrasound

Abstract

Training is a critical yet costly aspect of effective utilization ofdiagnostic ultrasound, where ultrasound simulation may come to play a key role.We have developed a low-cost and adaptive interactive ultrasound trainingsystem. The cost is minimized by keeping the physical components to a minimum(sham transducer, generic scan surface and a laptop or PC), while the adaptivenature is achieved by using virtual reality concepts to scan a virtual subject,unique to each image volume, with a virtual transducer. The position andorientation of the virtual transducer along with the displayed 2D image arecontrolled by the movement of the sham transducer on the scan surface. ©2010 IEEE.