Abstract
We report the testing of a mobile Robotic Tele-echo system that was placed in an ambulance and successfully transmitted clear real time echo imaging of a patient's abdomen to the destination hospital from where this device was being remotely operated. Two-way communication between the paramedics in this vehicle and a doctor standing by at the hospital was undertaken. The robot was equipped with an ultrasound probe which was remotely controlled by the clinician at the hospital and ultrasound images of the patient were transmitted wirelessly. The quality of the ultrasound images that were transmitted over the public mobile telephone networks and those transmitted over the Multimedia Wireless Access Network (a private networks) were compared. The transmission rate over the public networks and the private networks was approximately 256 Kbps, 3 Mbps respectively. Our results indicate that ultrasound images of far higher definition could be obtained through the private networks.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to extend our deep thanks to the many people who have made this field experiment possible through their extraordinary efforts.
Conflict of interest
This study was supported by a 2004 Yokohama City Research Encouragement Grant (funds for significant research). None of the other authors has any conflict interest with this research project.
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Takeuchi, R., Harada, H., Masuda, K. et al. Field Testing of a Remote Controlled Robotic Tele-echo System in an Ambulance Using Broadband Mobile Communication Technology. J Med Syst 32, 235–242 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-008-9128-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-008-9128-x