Far Forward Battlefield Telemedicine: Ultrasonic Guidance in Diagnosis and Emergency Therapeutic
Abstract
To improve battlefield assessment of injured personnel we are exploiting several convergent trends in medicine and technology, including ultrasound miniaturization and wireless connectivity. Specific aims include (1) validation of portable ultrasound to diagnose cardiac tamponade, pneumothorax, intraabdominal hemorrhage, etc.; (2) extension of digital echocardiography and local telemedicine to assist remote centers in transesophageal echocardiography; (3) Development of wireless telemedicine systems to relay ultrasonic images and loops to a remote review station; (4) Development of a precision guide for percutaneous drainage procedures using ultrasound guidance; (5) Combining this guide with wireless telemetry for remotely guided drainage; and (6) Extending this work to real-time three-dimensional ultrasonography. The technical and clinical challenges of such a proposal are complex but we have made significant progress on all aims, with wireless telemetry of continuous ultrasound data already a reality. If these goals can be accomplished, the ability of the Department of Defense to reduce mortality from battlefield trauma will be greatly enhanced. While this project has been developed specifically for battlefield telemedicine, the tools and techniques developed herein will have enormous application in the civilian sector, including delivery of diagnostic services to remote towns with little or no hardwire access to the internet.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA429628
Entities
People
- James D. Thomas