Teleneurosonology: a novel application of transcranial and carotid ultrasound.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To demonstrate the technical feasibility of interfacing transcranial Doppler (TCD) and carotid "duplex" ultrasonography (CUS) peripherals with telemedicine end points to provide real-time spectral waveform and duplex imaging data for remote review and interpretation.

METHODS: We performed remote TCD and CUS examinations on a healthy, volunteer employee from our institution without known cerebrovascular disease. The telemedicine end point was stationed in our institution's hospital where the neurosonology examinations took place and the control station was in a dedicated telemedicine room in a separate building. The examinations were performed by a postgraduate level neurohospitalist trainee (M.N.R.) and interpreted by an attending vascular neurologist, both with experience in the performance and interpretation of TCD and CUS.

RESULTS: Spectral waveform and duplex ultrasound data were successfully transmitted from TCD and CUS instruments through a telemedicine end point to a remote reviewer at a control station. Image quality was preserved in all cases, and technical failures were not encountered.

CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the technical feasibility of interfacing TCD and CUS peripherals with a telemedicine end point to provide real-time spectral waveform and duplex imaging data for remote review and interpretation. Medical diagnostic and telemedicine devices should be equipped with interfaces that allow simple transmission of high-quality audio and video information from the medical devices to the telemedicine technology. Further study is encouraged to determine the clinical impact of teleneurosonology.

Medical Subject Headings

Carotid Arteries; Feasibility Studies; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Predictive Value of Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Telemedicine; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; User-Computer Interface

Publication Date

3-1-2015

Publication Title

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis

ISSN

1532-8511

Volume

24

Issue

3

First Page

562

Last Page

565

PubMed ID

25542763

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2014.09.032

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