Article Excerpt
MediView’s technologies allow sonographers to put their screen anywhere they want. There are differentiated ergonomic benefits to the user by putting their screen in their direct line-of-sight with their hands and the patient, and it’s much more intuitive.” Rakestraw noted that augmented reality is the foundation for this technology. Augmented reality uses computer powered glasses that project images, such as an ultrasound, on a user’s view of the real world while still allowing the user to see and interact with their environment.
MediScout provides users the unique experience to see ultrasound images as they would appear inside of the patient. Rakestraw noted that the equipment also “has the unique ability to remotely call people in through an integration with Microsoft Teams to see through the eyes of the person performing the ultrasound.” This collaborative component of MediScout will allow students and their instructors, or practitioners in the industry, to have a first-person viewpoint of the procedure through any internet-connected device, allowing them to actively engage in the procedure and offer voice and video guidance as they view the actual ultrasound and environment.
Analysis
I’ve actually seen this technology being used in person by sonographers, and it’s a pretty crazy thing to behold. The sonographers mostly noted the fact that this allowed them to not have to divide their attention between the screen and their patient. By having the screen of the scan results right next to the actual point of operation, they could focus on the task at hand
What really caught my eye reading this particular article, was the mention that this technology allows experts to “see through the eyes of the person performing the ultrasound”. This one sentence holds a tremendous amount of power to help people in really any field. Let’s say in an emergency scenario, where an expert physician could talk you through performing an operation like CPR to save a patient who has no time to wait. It reminds me of air traffic control guiding individuals with little flight experience to a landing during emergencies when the pilots are incapacitated.
