Feasibility of Robot-Assisted Ultrasound System

Moath Ghanem, Kumaradevan Punithakumar, Mohamad Abdallah, Bernadette Foster, Jonathan Windram, Ahmed Ahmed, Pierre Boulanger, Harald Becher, Michelle Noga

Keywords: Robotics, Ultrasound, Cardiology

Abstract: Sonographers experience musculoskeletal strain when scanning patients over a prolonged periods, which can also lead to musculoskeletal injuries. Robot-assisted scanning systems offer a solution by allowing manipulation and placement of the transducer through lightweight controllers. However, ensuring patient safety is critical, particularly in limiting the contact forces applied during scanning. This study presents force measurements collected during robot-assisted echocardiographic scans on 28 patient participants. The results demonstrate that the system operates within safe force limits and provides a comfortable scanning experience.

Submission Number: 22