Study on augmented reality 4-D ultrasound in prenatal medicine

Purpose: The aim of the preclinical test was to evaluate an augmented reality (AR) based 4-D ultrasound system regarding its acceptance by pregnant women in prenatal medicine.

Material and methods: The used hardware consists of a clinical ultrasound device (Esaote MyLab70 XVG; 4-D curved array transducer) and a tablet PC (Toshiba AT300SE) with an integrated camera device. The ultrasound device collects ultrasound volumes continuously using the 4-D transducer and renders them on a standard monitor screen. Furthermore the ultrasound device acts as an image server that holds the render results available for the tablet PC (client). The tablet PC collects these results via WLAN. The integrated camera enables to track an optical marker fixed to the transducer. Finally the tablet PC displays the rendered (virtual) ultrasound volumes as a 2-D texture under the (real) ultrasound transducer.

Nine women in different states of pregnancy (12^th-37^th week) were scanned transcutaneously in supine position with the ultrasound device. During this examination they were able to watch the ultrasound volumes on a standard monitor screen. Afterwards they used the tablet PC and watched the rendered ultrasound volumes directly “inside” their abdomen (see figure 1).

Finally they rated their acceptance of both visualization techniques on a scale 1 (poor) to 10 (very good).

Fig. 1: AR ultrasound

Results: On average the women granted eight points on acceptance of the conventional visualization and ten points on the AR system.

They were willing to pay (on average) 80 Euros with a spread from 40 to 150 Euros.

Conclusions: The preclinical test shows that the AR based 4-D ultrasound system can be used in prenatal medicine. All participants were willing to pay for such an individual health service. However the visualization needs to be upgraded to 3-D textures instead of 2-D textures to improve the optical impression.