KR102719229B1 - Realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system, and more specifically, to a realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system which can maximize the effectiveness of education and practice by allowing a practitioner to simulate an ultrasound examination by directly manipulating an ultrasound probe along a guide for measuring a patient's body part provided for each disease in a virtual environment.

Description

{Realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system}

The present invention relates to a realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system, and more specifically, to a realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system which can maximize the effectiveness of education and practice by allowing a practitioner to simulate an ultrasound examination by directly manipulating an ultrasound probe along a guide for measuring a patient's body part provided for each disease in a virtual environment.

Ultrasound examination means sending high frequency sound waves that are inaudible to the human ear into the body and then imaging the sound waves reflected inside. In the first wave examination, by placing an ultrasound device close to the body part corresponding to the location of the organ to be examined, the movement of the organ can be imaged in real time.

In order to accurately diagnose a patient's symptoms, diseases, etc. through an ultrasound examination, it is important to accurately position the ultrasound device on the patient's body part that is to be examined so that the desired image is output as much as possible, and therefore a high level of skill is required.

Meanwhile, hospitals, schools, etc. are providing practical training to improve the skills of trainees who need ultrasound examination practice, but there is a big difference from the environment where actual patients are treated, and there are disadvantages such as high costs and insufficient time to perform the practice.

To this end, a practice simulator system that can perform practice in virtual reality has been developed and provided, but there is a problem that it lacks a sense of realism and immersion, and since it focuses on experience, it lacks specialized and detailed content, resulting in low educational efficiency.

KR 10-2020-0048830 A "Virtual Reality-Based Educational Cataract Surgery Simulation System"

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system capable of professionally performing ultrasound examination practice in virtual reality and providing practitioners with a sense of reality and immersion, thereby increasing educational efficiency.

In order to achieve the above purpose, a program providing realistic content for ultrasound examination education and practice in virtual reality based on an HMD device and a controller is provided, wherein a computer: a virtual reality output means for outputting a virtual reality screen in which a practice item selection window, a 3D modeled patient, a practitioner's hand, a measurement probe, and an ultrasound measuring device capable of outputting ultrasound images are provided in a virtual space; a guide output means for indicating and guiding a body measurement part corresponding to a practice item selected by a practitioner to the patient; an evaluation means for evaluating whether the measurement probe of the ultrasound measuring device is correctly placed on the measurement part; and an ultrasound image output means for outputting an ultrasound image of the corresponding measurement part through the ultrasound image output device when the score evaluated by the evaluation means is higher than a predetermined score;

In a preferred embodiment, the guide output means implements a guide model having the same shape as the ultrasonic measurement device and outputs it to the measurement site to display the measurement site to the patient, and the guide model is implemented and output so as to have a predefined angle and inclination for each measurement site.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide output means converts and outputs the color of the guide model according to the score evaluated by the evaluation means.

In a preferred embodiment, the evaluation means evaluates a score according to the degree of agreement between the position, angle, and inclination of the measurement probe and the guide model.

In a preferred embodiment, the computer further functions as an interactive means for outputting an output such that the body part of the patient contacted by the measuring probe and its surroundings are indented when the measuring probe comes into contact with the body part of the patient.

In a preferred embodiment, the practice item selection window outputs and provides a list of patient symptoms, and the guide output means displays body measurement parts related to the corresponding symptoms to the patient.

In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasound image is an internal ultrasound image of the body part to be measured, which was actually photographed.

In addition, the present invention further provides an ultrasound simulation system characterized by including: a server in which the ultrasound examination simulation program is stored; an HMD device worn by a practitioner and displaying a virtual reality screen received from the server; and a controller held by the practitioner and controlling an ultrasound measuring device implemented on the virtual reality screen.

The present invention has the following excellent effects.

According to the realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system of the present invention, a model that guides the examination area according to the patient's symptoms is output and provided, and furthermore, an evaluation that considers the measurement angle, inclination, etc. of the probe located at the examination area is visually output and provided to the practitioner, thereby enabling professional and efficient ultrasound examination practice, thereby increasing the efficiency of education.

According to the realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system of the present invention, when the probe of an ultrasound examination device comes into contact with a patient's body, the area of the patient's body that comes into contact is made to have a realistically sunken effect, thereby enhancing the practitioner's sense of realism and immersion.

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the configuration of an ultrasonic inspection simulation system according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the configuration of an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a first drawing for explaining a virtual screen implemented through an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a second drawing for explaining a virtual screen implemented through an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a first drawing for explaining the function of a guide output means of an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a second drawing for explaining the function of a guide output means of an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The terms used in the present invention are selected from commonly used terms as much as possible, but in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant. In such cases, the meaning should be understood by considering the meaning described or used in the detailed description of the invention, rather than the simple name of the term.

Hereinafter, the technical configuration of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Like reference numerals represent like elements throughout the specification.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic inspection simulation system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a first diagram for explaining a virtual screen implemented through an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a second diagram for explaining a virtual screen implemented through an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a first diagram for explaining a function of a guide output means of an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a second diagram for explaining a function of a guide output means of an ultrasonic inspection simulation program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a program according to one embodiment of the present invention is an ultrasound examination simulation program (1000) that provides content that allows a practitioner to perform ultrasound examination practice by controlling an ultrasound examination device in virtual reality as if in reality.

In addition, the above-mentioned ultrasound inspection simulation program (100) is performed by a computer (130), and the computer (130) means a broad computing device including not only a general personal computer but also a smart device such as a smartphone or tablet PC.

In addition, the above program (1000) may be provided by being stored in a separate recording medium, and the recording medium may be one that is specially designed and configured for the present invention or one that is known and available to a person with ordinary knowledge in the computer software field.

For example, the recording medium may be a hardware device specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, alone or in combination, such as a magnetic medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape, an optical recording medium such as a CD or a DVD, a magneto-optical recording medium capable of both magnetic and optical recording, a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, etc.

In addition, the above ultrasonic inspection simulation program (1000) may be a program composed of program commands, local data files, local data structures, etc., either singly or in combination, and may be a program written in a high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc., as well as machine language code created by a compiler.

In addition, the present invention can further provide an ultrasound examination system (100) comprising a server (130) in which the ultrasound examination simulation program (1000) is stored, an HMD device (110) that is worn on the head of a practitioner (1) and receives and displays a screen in which a virtual reality for ultrasound practice is implemented from the server (130), and a controller (120) that is held in the hand of the practitioner (1) and can control the movement of a practitioner model implemented in the virtual reality.

In addition, the controller (120) may be manufactured in various shapes, but may be manufactured and provided in the same shape as the probe of an actual ultrasonic device to provide a sense of realism.

Below, the simulation program (1000) of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

A simulation program (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a virtual reality output means (1100), a guide output means (1200), an evaluation means (1300), an ultrasonic image output means (1400), and an interaction means (1500).

The above virtual reality output means (1100) outputs a virtual reality screen in which an environment and devices are implemented so that a practitioner (1) can practice ultrasound examination in a virtual space.

In detail, the virtual space above is equipped with a 3D modeled patient (10) for practice, a practitioner's hand (20), and a measuring probe (31), and an ultrasound examination device (30) capable of outputting ultrasound images is implemented. In addition, various devices and backgrounds are implemented to resemble an actual environment.

Here, the practitioner's hand (20) is controlled to move and grip within the virtual space by the controller (120), and the practitioner (1) can control the movement, grip, and rotation of the measuring probe (31) of the ultrasonic inspection device by controlling the practitioner's hand (20).

In addition, the virtual space outputs a practice item selection window (40) that provides a menu for selecting practice items.

In the above practice item selection window (40), organs and diseases inside the human body that are to be examined in ultrasound examination practice are listed and output, and the practitioner can perform practice by selecting one of the listed items.

In addition, the above-mentioned practice item selection window (40) may further include an item that can make the body transparent so that the practitioner (1) can see the internal organs of the patient (10).

The above guide output means (1200) guides by indicating the body part (hereinafter referred to as “measurement part”) where the measurement probe (31) should be positioned to view the organ of the patient (10) corresponding to the item selected in the practice item selection window (40).

For example, when the practitioner (1) selects a disease-related item in the practice item selection window (40), the guide output means (1200) guides by displaying the measurement area of the patient (10) where an ultrasound image of an organ related to the disease can be viewed.

In addition, the guide output means (1200) implements a guide model (G) having the same shape as the shape of the measurement probe (31) for guiding the measurement probe (31) and outputs it to the measurement area of the patient, and the guide model (G) is output so as to have the optimal angle and inclination for obtaining an accurate ultrasound image at the corresponding measurement area.

Meanwhile, in an actual ultrasound examination, in order to take clear and accurate pictures of the organs inside the human body, it is important not only to position the measuring probe in an appropriate body part where the ultrasound image of each organ can be viewed, but also to adjust the measuring angle and inclination of the measuring probe in the body part.

However, in the case of conventional virtual reality-based practice simulation programs, the patient's body part is specified for the area to be operated on or examined, and the practice equipment or apparatus for the corresponding body part is simply displayed so that it can be positioned. However, the present invention goes further and induces practice by positioning the measurement probe (31) at an angle and inclination suitable for each measurement area as well as the location of each measurement area so that the best ultrasound image can be captured through the measurement probe (31), thereby providing a learning effect that can be helpful in real life, not just through experience.

The above evaluation means (1300) evaluates whether the measurement probe (31) is positioned at the measurement site at a position and angle corresponding to the guide model (G) and converts it into a score.

Meanwhile, the guide output means (1200) converts the color of the guide model and outputs it so that the practitioner can visually recognize whether the guide is correctly positioned in the measurement area when the evaluated score is above a certain level.

The above ultrasonic image output means (1400) outputs an ultrasonic image related to the measurement area through the ultrasonic inspection device (30).

In addition, the ultrasonic image output means (1400) outputs an ultrasonic image through the ultrasonic inspection device (30) only when the practitioner (1) controls the measurement probe (31) and correctly positions it on the measurement area.

Accordingly, the ultrasonic image output means (1400) outputs an ultrasonic image of the corresponding measurement area through the ultrasonic image output device only when the score evaluated through the evaluation means (1300) is above a certain score.

The above interaction means (1500) implements an effect for the body part that is in contact with the patient's (10) body part and the measurement probe (31) in a realistic manner for a sense of realism.

To this end, the interaction means (1500) determines whether the body part of the patient (10) and the measurement probe (31) are in contact using the three-dimensional coordinates of the body part of the patient (10) in virtual reality and the measurement probe (31), and outputs the body part of the patient (10) and its surroundings that are indented, thereby maximizing the sense of immersion similar to reality.

Meanwhile, the modeled patient (10), the practitioner's hand (20), and the ultrasonic measuring device (30) equipped with a measuring probe (31) are models created in a polygonal manner, and the three-dimensional coordinates mean the coordinates of vertices.

Therefore, the realistic ultrasound examination simulation program and system of the present invention provides practice for measurement sites according to symptoms, and guides ultrasound examination to be performed at the optimal angle and inclination for the corresponding measurement site as well as the measurement position of the measurement probe, so that professional practical training can be performed rather than simple experience.

In addition, the present invention can increase the sense of realism and immersion of practitioners by producing a realistic and immersive effect in which, when the measuring probe of an ultrasound examination device comes into contact with a patient's body, the contacted body part and its surroundings appear to sink as if in reality.

As described above, the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments, but is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

100: Ultrasound inspection simulation system 110: HMD device
120:Controller 130:Server
1000: Ultrasonic inspection simulation program 1100: Virtual reality output means
1200: Guide output means 1300: Evaluation means
1400: Ultrasonic image output means 1500: Interaction means

Claims (8)

A computer program that provides realistic content for ultrasound examination training and practice in virtual reality based on an HMD device and controller.
Computer:
A virtual reality output means for outputting a virtual reality screen in which a practice item selection window, a 3D modeled patient, a practitioner's hand, a measuring probe, and an ultrasound measuring device capable of outputting ultrasound images are provided in a virtual space;
A guide output means for guiding the patient by indicating the measurement part of the body corresponding to the practice item selected by the practitioner;
An evaluation means for evaluating whether the measurement probe of the above ultrasonic measurement device is correctly placed on the measurement part;
An ultrasonic image output means for outputting an ultrasonic image of the corresponding measurement area through the ultrasonic measurement device when the score evaluated through the above evaluation means is above a certain score; and
When the above measurement probe comes into contact with a body part of the patient, it functions as an interactive means that outputs an output so that the body part of the patient that came into contact with the measurement probe and its surroundings are sunken;
The above guide output means implements a guide model of the same shape as the ultrasonic measurement device and outputs it to the measurement area to display the measurement area to the patient.
The above guide model is implemented to have a predefined angle and slope for each measurement area.
The above evaluation means evaluates the score according to the degree of agreement between the position, angle, and inclination of the measuring probe and the guide model.
A realistic ultrasound examination simulation program stored in a recording medium characterized in that the guide output means converts the color of the guide model according to the score evaluated by the evaluation means and guides the practitioner to accurately position the measurement probe on the measurement area in virtual reality.
In paragraph 1,
The above practice item selection window provides a list of the patient's symptoms.
The above guide output means is a realistic ultrasound examination simulation program stored in a recording medium characterized by displaying to the patient the body measurement part related to the corresponding symptom. In the second paragraph
The above ultrasound image is a realistic ultrasound examination simulation program stored in a recording medium characterized by being an ultrasound image of the inside of the human body of the corresponding body measurement part that was actually photographed.
delete A server storing a realistic ultrasound inspection simulation program according to any one of claims 1 to 3;
An HMD device worn by a practitioner and displaying a virtual reality screen received from the server; and
A realistic ultrasound simulation system characterized by including a controller that controls an ultrasound measuring device implemented on the virtual reality screen and which a practitioner holds;


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