Project Overview

In past decade, ultrasound systems have significantly advanced. However, ultrasound does have a few inherent weaknesses when compared to other imaging modalities. Among these, user dependency and the variables created by movement, angle and inexperienced use of the ultrasound transducer has slowed more widespread adoption. Although a highly experienced ultrasound sonographer or radiologist can capture a high quality image, often in clinical practice, low quality images are captured due to improperly held ultrasound transducers.

Echometrix LLC is a Madison-based startup company that is developing an ultrasound video image analysis software, trademarked EchoSoft, through collaboration with Prof. Ray Vanderby from the Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, UW-Madison. The Echometrix product creates yet another variable for inexperienced sonographers because it requires palpation or other manipulation (not dissimilar from the challenges faced by conventional elastography), thus a properly captured dynamic image is essential to complete an accurate image analysis using EchoSoft. Echometrix seeks a simple and elegant ultrasound transducer holder that can be secured to both upper and lower extremities.

The holder has to satisfy following requirements:

1) Can be secured to the surface of most body parts
2) Holds LINEAR transducer at any arbitral angle to body surface
3) Allows transducer to slide in two orthogonal directions
4) Allows transducer to rotate 90 degree without any action such as removing and re-setting
5) Holder requires minimal ultrasound gel
6) Holder must have a disposable soft-pad (sits between skin and transducer) with known acoustic material property
7) Holder has to be created with material that can be cleaned with 70% alcohol used at hospital

A holder that can satisfy the above requirements will reduce user-dependency that can lead to the swift and high quality scanning required.

Team Picture

Files

• Final Report (December 12, 2012)
• Final Poster (December 12, 2012)
• Midsemester Powerpoint (October 24, 2012)
• Midsemester Report (October 24, 2012)

Contact Information

Team Members

• Joseph Henningsen - Team Leader
• Meghan Anderson - Communicator
• Daniel Thompson - BSAC
• Jared Warczytowa - Co-BWIG
• Samantha McCarthy - Co-BWIG

Advisor and Client

• Dr. Willis Tompkins - Advisor
• Dr. Hirohito Kobayashi - Client
• Sam Adams - Alternate Contact