Wireless Transmission of Streaming Ultrasound through H.264 Compression
As part of the effort towards making ultrasound images available anywhere, we are developing real time video streaming capabilities of ultrasound images. Specifically, we are implementing this on our mobile ultrasound system, to operate on wireless networks, such as wireless LANs, 3G mobile phones, and satellite phone systems. Given the limited data rate (bandwidth), effective image compression is needed, such as H.264 (MPEG-4) compression is needed. The work is carried out by Naveen Mareddy and Aravind Krishman, MS students in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The wireless transmission of ultrasound data can operate in two different modes: (i) real time streaming of video, with associated two-way voice communication, and (ii) upload of acquired ultrasound data, such as cineloops, 3D image volumes, or individual images. Depending of the available data rate, the format will be VGA or QVGA, with automatically adjusted frame rate. Two way voice communication will be included in any real time transmissions.
This ability to use different wireless transmission technologies allows ultrasound video streaming from nearly any location, and can give immediate access to expert diagnosis even when the patients is thousands of miles removed from a major hospital. Situations where this may be of critical importance includes scanning of accident victims at accident or disaster sites, scanning patients who are homebound; scanning personnel on board ships to determine whether transport to shore is needed; scanning at remote mobile clinics in developing countries, and scanning at rural clinics.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: March 11, 2008 14:06:45