Implementation of tele-ultrasonography for ultrasound acuson 128XP/10

Abstract

The current state of Vietnamese healthcare field is prone to trending problems such as overloading of the patient, disorganized management, and the most concerning factor is the communication between doctors that is significantly hindered by the distance between regions. The latter element damages multiple sides, as the medical infrastructure among regions of Vietnam is not on the same page. Good medical infrastructure can easily be found in large cities like Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang, etc. while poor medical infrastructure can be found almost anywhere else. Therefore in case of emergency, the patients have no other choice but to travel to another location where the infrastructure is good enough. Additionally, ultrasound machines are relatively bulky, so their portability is out of the equation. Hence, transferring information among them meets various hardships. With the rapid growth of 3G and wireless network, mobile phones are not just standalone devices to communicate anymore. Mobile users are no longer satisfied with only the basic offline functions, they need benefits from the online mobile services, such as being able to surf on the internet, read news, send emails, look up information, etc. Vietnamese can easily afford smartphones nowadays as well. These services provide conveniences altogether with the distinctive characteristics of the mobile phones, which allows users to access the desirable information anytime and anywhere. The aim of thesis is to combine the concept of telemedicine and ultrasound to develop an iOS app that allows users to spectate the content streamed directly from the Acuson 128XP/10 Ultrasound System. The ultimate purpose of this thesis is to allow doctors in well-developed areas, where the infrastructure is superior, to discuss and guide their counterparts in under-developed areas whose infrastructure is inferior. By combining a dual-platform including Windows and iOS, we expect to provide the best experience for medical experts by letting them practically spectate the contents from any ultrasound devices regardless of the distance between users and the device itself, hence improving the quality of the medical healthcare in Viet Nam.