We have developed a new tool for guiding invasive procedures with ultrasound, based on a very simple idea. We attach a half-silvered mirror and a small flat-panel monitor to an ultrasound transducer. This resulting device, which we call the sonic flashlight, can project a virtual image of an ultrasound scan into its proper visual location within the patient, without requiring any tracking or head-mounted apparatus. The sonic flashlight provides an intuitive merger of the visual exterior of the patient with the ultrasound image in situ, in vivo, and in real time. It permits the operator to guide a needle through the skin aiming directly at the ultrasound image, using natural hand-eye coordination rather than looking away from the patient at a screen. We believe it will increase accuracy, safety, and speed for a wide variety of diagnostic and invasive procedures, and enable them to be performed with less training. Our ultimate goal is to bring the sonic flashlight to clinical practice. Towards this end we propose to improve the present design in significant ways and to test the sonic flashlight on phantoms and animals, establishing the limits of accuracy and gaining a greater understanding of the human skills involved.
Specific Aims : (1) Improve the design of the present 2D sonic flashlight, including its size, weight, ultrasound quality, Doppler capability, mirror optics, ergonomics, etc. (2) Develop a matrix-array 3D sonic flashlight, incorporating a Real-Time 3D (RT3D) ultrasound scanner that will permit the sonic flashlight to display real-time in situ slices with any orientation relative to the transducer. (3)Test human performance using the sonic flashlight on specially developed phantoms, with physical exteriors and simulated ultrasound interiors containing a variety of targets. A mock-up of the sonic flashlight and a needle will be tracked to test human performance in terms of specific psychological processes. (4) Validate feasibility and repeatability of specific image-guided procedures. Then perform statistical study comparing performance of the sonic flashlight to conventional methods. Clinical consultants will be involved at every stage, from studying and redesigning the sonic flashlight to conducting animal trials. If successful, at the completion of the proposed four years of research the sonic flashlight will be ready for testing in humans to guide invasive procedures.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EB000860-02
Application #
6745567
Study Section
Diagnostic Imaging Study Section (DMG)
Program Officer
Haller, John W
Project Start
2003-05-15
Project End
2007-02-28
Budget Start
2004-03-01
Budget End
2005-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$405,590
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Wu, Bing; Klatzky, Roberta L; Stetten, George D (2012) Mental visualization of objects from cross-sectional images. Cognition 123:33-49
Wu, Bing; Klatzky, Roberta L; Stetten, George (2010) Visualizing 3D objects from 2D cross sectional images displayed in-situ versus ex-situ. J Exp Psychol Appl 16:45-59
Klatzky, Roberta L; Wu, Bing; Stetten, George (2010) The disembodied eye: consequences of displacing perception from action. Vision Res 50:2618-26
Wang, David; Amesur, Nikhil; Shukla, Gaurav et al. (2009) Peripherally inserted central catheter placement with the sonic flashlight: initial clinical trial by nurses. J Ultrasound Med 28:651-6
Amesur, Nikhil B; Wang, David C; Chang, Wilson et al. (2009) Peripherally inserted central catheter placement using the Sonic Flashlight. J Vasc Interv Radiol 20:1380-3
Wang, David C; Klatzky, Roberta; Wu, Bing et al. (2009) Fully automated common carotid artery and internal jugular vein identification and tracking using B-mode ultrasound. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 56:1691-9
Klatzky, Roberta L; Wu, Bing; Stetten, George (2008) Spatial Representations From Perception and Cognitive Mediation: The Case of Ultrasound. Curr Dir Psychol Sci 17:359-364
Wu, Bing; Klatzky, Roberta L; Stetten, George (2008) Learning to Reach to Locations Encoded from Imaging Displays. Spat Cogn Comput 8:333-356
Wu, Bing; Klatzky, Roberta L; Shelton, Damion et al. (2008) Mental concatenation of perceptually and cognitively specified depth to represent locations in near space. Exp Brain Res 184:295-305
Chang, Wilson M; Amesur, Nikhil B; Klatzky, Roberta L et al. (2006) Vascular access: comparison of US guidance with the sonic flashlight and conventional US in phantoms. Radiology 241:771-9

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