Low Cost Telesonography Model for DDH Exam

Telemedicine holds important place and has wider use in health care practice and improvement of health organization, above all providing the opportunity for standard and innovative procedures to combine. Tremendous increase in Internet bandwidth enabled a true revolution in image transmission and enabled easy remote viewing of the static images. However, transmission of real time video streams such as in ultrasound has been underreported. Here, we tested feasibility of the low-cost teleultrasound system for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) screening and diagnostic values of the transmitted images and video data in real time. Sending of data was accomplished with a software package specifically designed for teleultrasound transmission through limited Internet bandwidth. Using Remote Ultrasound (RU) software in conjunction with a hardware setup and low bandwidth Internet link, we performed sonographic DDH screening exams in real time. In addition to continuous monitoring of the exam via video stream, RU enables remotely controlled recording and selection of still images on a sending and a receiving computer. Qualitative analysis of 50 transmitted ultrasound images and all video streaming during each exam, were performed. Teleultrasound screening through the Internet connection of low transmission power with the software application, provides ultrasound image and video stream, which is the base for further clinical investigation and clinical application of this model.