Much work has been published on the use of 3D ultrasound in specialist applications. We are looking for applications of 3D ultrasound in routine clinical scanning. We want to acquire large amounts of typical ultrasound data in a clinical environment with non-specialist sonographers. Consequently, we demand a robust, simple system with an intuitive interface which allows a clinician with minimal training to acquire 3D data without prolonging the examination time experienced by the patient. This data can be re-studied later using more advanced techniques still under development.
Many clinicians find ultrasound interfaces complicated and non-intuitive.
Another is a patient-centred coordinate system. This approach minimises accidental loss of data. We have avoided the use of a keyboard and a computer mouse since these are neither robust nor practical in a clinical environment. We have assumed that the sonographer's attention is devoted to the patient and to optimising the 2D image quality via the scanner's controls. Ideally, we require hands-free operation.