Tele-Operated Echography and Remote Guidance for Performing Tele-Echography on Geographically Isolated Patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance of three tele-echography systems for routine use in isolated medical centers.


METHODS
Three systems were used for deep (abdomen, pelvis, fetal) and superficial (muscle, thyroid, carotid artery) examinations: (a) a robotic arm (RA) holding an echographic probe; (b) an echograph with a motorized probe (MP); and (c) remote guidance (RG) where the patient site operator performed the examination assisted by an expert via videoconference. All systems were tested in the same medical center located 60 km away from the university hospital.


RESULTS
A total of 340 remote echography examinations were performed (41% RA and MP, 59% RG). MP and RA allowed full control of the probe orientation by the expert, and provided diagnoses in 97% of cases. The use of RG was sufficient for superficial vessel examinations and provided diagnoses in 98% of cases but was not suited for deep or superficial organs. Assessment of superficial organs was best accomplished using the MP.


CONCLUSIONS
Both teleoperated systems provided control of the probe orientation by the expert necessary for obtaining appropriate views of deep organs but the MP was much more ergonomic and easier to use than the RA. RG was appropriate for superficial vessels while the MP was better for superficial volumic organs.
Unite Medecine Physiologie Spatiale (UMPS-CERCOM) Faculte de Medecine, Tours 37032, France. arbeille@med.univ-tours.fr.
Philippe
P
Arbeille
Unite Medecine Physiologie Spatiale (UMPS-CERCOM) Faculte de Medecine, Tours 37032, France. Kathryn.zuj@gmail.com.
Kathryn
K
Zuj
MSP (Maison de Sant&#233; Pluridisciplinaire), Richelieu 37190, France. arnaud.saccomandi@gmail.com.
Arnaud
A
Saccomandi
MSP (Maison de Sant&#233; Pluridisciplinaire), Richelieu 37190, France. eliseandre2@gmail.com.
Elise
E
Andre
MSP (Maison de Sant&#233; Pluridisciplinaire), Ligueil 37240, France. c.delaportedesvaux@wanadoo.fr.
Cedric
C
De La Porte
Unite Medecine Physiologie Spatiale (UMPS-CERCOM) Faculte de Medecine, Tours 37032, France. georgescuemonica@yahoo.fr.
Monica
M
Georgescu
remote guidance; tele-echography; tele-medicine; teleoperated probe