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Release date: March 2002
Contact: Media & External Communications, (509) 375-3776
MUSTPAC-3: A technical overview
The system—MUSTPAC stands for Medical Ultrasound, Three-dimensional and Portable with Advanced Communications. This telemedicine system allows for the capture and transmittal of 3-D ultrasound images. The numeral "3" indicates this is the third version of this system.The benefits—The conventional two-dimensional ultrasound systems used in hospitals require highly trained diagnosticians who must be familiar with an individual's anatomy for the ideal data acquisition.
Comparatively, MUSTPAC is simple to use. An operator with limited training and no diagnostic skills can use the system to obtain information needed by a specialist located elsewhere. The only knowledge required is to know which part of the body should be scanned. The specialist then can communicate back to the operator a diagnosis and treatment suggestion, as though the two people were in the same room.
The process—To use the MUSTPAC system, there must be an acquisition station where a patient is scanned and a diagnostic station where a specialist can view the scanned images on a monitor.
At the acquisition station, an operator sweeps the ultrasound probe—attached to a positioning sensor—over a part of the body, such as a pregnant woman's womb. During the scan, special software records data sets then translates them into three-dimensional images. The data is sent through an Internet link or over telephone lines to a specialist at a diagnostic station, who could be located locally or hundreds of miles away.
The diagnostician downloads the information and displays it in three dimensions on a computer monitor. Then she performs her own "virtual" scan of the three-dimensional data set by running a virtual ultrasound probe through the air as though she were standing over the patient.
The specifications—PNNL software engineers designed the transmission software for sharing the scanned images across telephone lines and also created the custom data acquisition and control software that are used in MUSTPAC-3.
The remaining components were bought commercially, but PNNL researchers modified them to fit MUSTPAC's needs. These components include: mechanical arm used for both positioning sensor and virtual ultrasound probe; ultrasound machine; computer (which could be a laptop or full size desktop computer); and visualization software.
These items are integrated onto a common base of Intel Pentium processors using the Windows/NT operating system.
The third version of MUSTPAC can be configured to weigh about 25 pounds, which is about one-third of the original version's 80 pounds.
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