6533b826fe1ef96bd1284638

RESEARCH PRODUCT

<title>Pilot clinical evaluation of prototype system for visually reporting the results of ultrasound examination</title>

subject

description

A dedicated optic-mechanical device, attachable to an ultrasound scanner, has been developed that allows visual documenting of ultrasound examination by recording multiple gray-scale images, i.e. ultrasound tomography (UST), to be performed routinely and at low cost. The device is operated by one hand without interrupting the examination. Each page of UST report is composed by deliberate positioning multiple images within the 2X4 framework and recorded on a 35-mm microfilm. If necessary, graphic reconstructions were composed from standard graphic components and interposed between the original images on the same frame. UST report is communicated to a patient and/or a referring doctor on a compact reflective hardcopy. Trial-and-error search for optimal number of images that constitute adequate UST document resulted in plateau of average 30 +/- 1.8 images per patient visit. Practice of UST is well accepted by local medical community and by patients, and the first year since its introduction yielded two-fold growth of referral to Ultrasound Studio. Low-cost optic- mechanical UST system could create locally culture of reporting ultrasound examination in images rather than verbally, and facilitate for further introduction of more advanced digital systems.