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Published on: January 6, 2023
Portable and attachable tele-echography robot system: FASTele
Keiichiro Ito1, Shigeki Sugano, Hiroyasu Iwata
1Department of Creative Science and Engineering, School of Modern Mechanical Engineering, Waseda University, 17 Kikui-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo,162-0044, Japan. itokei-1985@sugano.mech.waseda.ac.jp
Summary
A new portable robotic system, FASTele, enables paramedics to perform Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) in ambulances or at injury scenes. This tele-echography robot allows remote fine-tuning by specialists, improving rapid diagnosis for shock patients.
Area of Science:
- Medical Robotics
- Emergency Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) is critical for diagnosing internal bleeding in shock patients.
- Current limitations in FAST include time constraints and delays associated with patient transportation to hospitals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and develop a portable and attachable tele-echography robot system, named FASTele.
- To enhance the speed and accessibility of FAST for paramedics treating shock patients at the point of care.
Main Methods:
- Development of a 4-Degrees of Freedom (DOF) tele-echography robot system designed for body-based setup.
- Implementation of curvature rails for probe posture control and a spring-based mechanism for passive contact force maintenance.
- Remote fine-tuning of the robot's probe position by a specialist located in a hospital.
Main Results:
- The developed FASTele robot is designed to be small and lightweight, addressing portability and usability concerns for paramedics.
- Feasibility experiments for performing FAST using the tele-echography robot system were conducted and are reported.
Conclusions:
- The FASTele system offers a potential solution for rapid, on-site FAST examinations in emergency situations.
- The system's design prioritizes portability and ease of use for paramedics, facilitating timely diagnosis and treatment for trauma patients.
