CHALLENGES WITH SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT FOR ULTRASONOGRAPHY TRAINING: DEVELOPING HARDWARE - SOFTWARE INTERFACE

摘要

This paper discusses the challenges of optimizing the hardware - software interface in developing an ultrasonography simulator training tool. The tool will be used to train medical clinicians whose practice involves comprehensive and problem-specific physical examination of the patient with the use of ultrasound. Ultrasonography is a user-dependent technology; operators must possess both physical and cognitive ultrasonography capability to include mechanical manipulation of the transducer and image capture and interpretation. There are three major challenges in developing a simulator training tool that provides both physical (hardware) and cognitive (software-visualization) learning experiences: 1) interface design, 2) hardware utilization, and 3) the integration of software for simulating volume of ultrasound beams and visualization of images. Multi-disciplinary expertise and numerous iterations of integrating hard- and software capabilities have brought about the success of both mechanical components and visualization capability of this ultrasonography simulator training tool.