Wireless Communication Options for a Mobile Ultrasound System

This work evaluates the feasibility of wireless§real-time ultrasound image streaming, for use in§disaster, rescue and medical transport. Relevant§transmission parameters (data rate, packet loss,§jitter, and latency) and network protocols were§measured for 3 wireless networks: 802.11g ad-hoc§network, 3G cellular broadband network, and Inmarsat§BGAN satellite network. In addition, H.264 compressed§echocardiographic image loops were transmitted in§real-time over the 3 wireless networks, with§specified image quality (VGA and QVGA) and specified§frame rates (10, 15, 20 and 30 frames per second),§and then uncompressed and recorded.§Physicians with expertise in medical ultrasound§subsequently rated the diagnostic content of the§transmitted image stream relative to the original§image loops. The results showed that with efficient§video compression, diagnostically valuable wireless§streaming of ultrasound video can be carried out.§This work will benefit individuals and organizations§in the field of telemedicine and remote medical§imaging as well as those in the wireless community.