Cheryl Vance, MA, RDMS, RVT

This article represents the views of the         author, not the views of the U.S. Air Force.

Portable         Ultrasound - A Peek at the Future         NCO Helps Create New Ultrasound Technology

Portable         Ultrasound - An Interview with Cheryl Vance

, OBGYN.net Editorial         Advisor interviews 

, OBGYN.net         Editorial Advisor, 382nd Training Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base,         Texas  

Air         Force Tests Wearable Ultrasound Technology

The Air Force has a program, the Education and         Training Technology Application Program (ETTAP), specifically geared to         introduce new technology into the training environment.  This         program funds initiatives to incorporate the latest advances in         technology into the training setting.  After learning about the         ETTAP program, I eagerly searched the Internet to find technology that         might fit into this category.  I was particularly interested in the         thought of purchasing new equipment for my ultrasound students without         cutting into our department’s funds. 

While searching the Internet, I found a         website promoting an ultrasound machine that operates from a laptop         computer.  Although this was excellent technology in itself, I         didn’t think it was quite “unique” enough to be funded through an         ETTAP project.  So, I continued searching the web until I found         information on the latest wearable computers.  When I inquired         about using the wearable technology with the laptop ultrasound company,         I found that it was considered a vision for the future, but that it was         not yet in production. 

I was very intrigued about combining these         two technologies, so I continued researching the wearable computing         aspect until I found a company whose hardware was capable of running the         ultrasound program.  In fact, this particular company was already         privately working with the laptop ultrasound company to develop a         wearable unit with enough memory to run their ultrasound system.          Realizing I would not stop until I got my wearable ultrasound system,         the laptop ultrasound company eventually allowed me to purchase the very         first wearable system for testing in my ETTAP project.  Finally, my         persistence paid off!

In February 2002, the wearable computer was         delivered to the Air Force ultrasound course.  Currently, it has         B-mode, M-mode and Color Doppler.  We are anxiously awaiting a         memory upgrade to run Power Doppler and Spectral Doppler.  The         image quality is quite amazing considering it is being projected onto         such a tiny display screen.  An added benefit of this wearable         technology is room lighting no longer poses a problem.  The         head-mounted display screen produces zero glare - regardless of the         lighting scenario.

Wearable, PC-based ultrasound applications         are endless.  For example, since the system runs on a Windows-based         operating system, its images can be downloaded instantaneously from a         remote location and transferred for any telemedicine application         imaginable.  Beyond the remarkable ultrasound applications, the         added benefit of the system being PC-based is just icing on the cake!          Now, a sonographer can check e-mail, finish crunching manpower numbers,         or even fine-tune a PowerPoint presentation for a case analysis         in-between scanning patients.  It allows more flexibility without         the burden of switching to or learning an entirely new system.  I         am thrilled to be a pioneer in the imminent wearable ultrasound trend.          Sonography certainly is the “wave” of the future!

MSgt. Cheryl A. Vance, MA, RDMS
         ETTAP Project Officer, Handheld Ultrasound

Articles

The Air Force has a program, the Education and Training Technology Application Program (ETTAP), specifically geared to introduce new technology into the training environment.  This program funds initiatives to incorporate the latest advances in technology into the training setting.