Robotics, Sonography, and Cardiac Diagnosis
Robotics has been an integral part of cardiac medicine – and medicine in general – since it was first introduced in the 1980s. Used mainly in surgeries to make critical operations minimally invasive and thereby reducing the risk and cost of the procedure, robotics has also entered the field of sonography and medical technology. Particularly in the field of cardiac medicine, robotics has made remote diagnosis of different cardiac conditions possible. Because of this ultrasound technician schools have started including robotics in their core curricula.
Robotics in surgery
The use of robotics was first introduced in 1983 through the use of a surgical robot called Heartthrob, developed in Vancouver. It was first used in an orthopedic procedure in March and more than 60 arthroscopic procedures were completed within the year. The success of the robot brought more awareness to the vital role robotics can play in medicine, with National Geographic airing a special on robotic devices such as surgical scrub nurse robots and robotic arms used in a medical laboratory. Learning robotics Because robotics are becoming more and more important in the field of sonography, accredited cardiac sonography schools all over the country are slowly including it in their curricula. Students are becoming exposed to advanced procedures, making them experts by the time they graduate from cardiac sonography programs. |
Trans-Atlantic ultrasound: the ultimate remote procedure
Robotics is being taken one step further with trans-Atlantic procedures making remote assistance for sonography possible. A study by Dr. Sengupta from Mouth Sinai in New York involved the use of a lightweight robotic arm with ultrasound tech built in all the way in Munich, Germany. The arm was able to complete a sonography exam of a patient’s carotid artery in four minutes – with the technician operating from the United States.
Dr. Sengupta says that the use of trans-Atlantic sonography through standard internet means that remote sonography is very possible within the bounds of the United States and even further. The ability to perform sonography from great distances has expanded the role of medical sonographers and physicians by making highly-skilled individuals available to rural areas – all without the added costs of long-distance transportation. An even better result was that both experts and novices were able to use the machine without any problems.
Time-reduction and fast-track management
One of the biggest pros of using remote sonography in diagnosing cardiac conditions is the reduction of time it takes for a patient to move from diagnosis to management. A study performed by Dr. Boman focused on the time it took for a patient to receive remote consultation followed by actual management in a hospital or health care center.
By using remote sonography, the diagnosis to management time was significantly reduced to 27 days, from the average of 114 – a great statistic for healthcare. Waiting time for the availability of a specialist was reduced to 12 days from 86 as well.
Salary and outlook in the United States
Cardiac sonographers are in high-demand in the country, earning above the average per annum salary of $67,170. By the middle of 2013, there were almost 60,000 sonographers working in the country, a good percentage of that was cardiac sonographers with high cardiac sonography salary. If you are studying sonography and are interested in specializing in the cardiovascular system inquire about a robotics program or class in your chosen school.
Robotics is being taken one step further with trans-Atlantic procedures making remote assistance for sonography possible. A study by Dr. Sengupta from Mouth Sinai in New York involved the use of a lightweight robotic arm with ultrasound tech built in all the way in Munich, Germany. The arm was able to complete a sonography exam of a patient’s carotid artery in four minutes – with the technician operating from the United States.
Dr. Sengupta says that the use of trans-Atlantic sonography through standard internet means that remote sonography is very possible within the bounds of the United States and even further. The ability to perform sonography from great distances has expanded the role of medical sonographers and physicians by making highly-skilled individuals available to rural areas – all without the added costs of long-distance transportation. An even better result was that both experts and novices were able to use the machine without any problems.
Time-reduction and fast-track management
One of the biggest pros of using remote sonography in diagnosing cardiac conditions is the reduction of time it takes for a patient to move from diagnosis to management. A study performed by Dr. Boman focused on the time it took for a patient to receive remote consultation followed by actual management in a hospital or health care center.
By using remote sonography, the diagnosis to management time was significantly reduced to 27 days, from the average of 114 – a great statistic for healthcare. Waiting time for the availability of a specialist was reduced to 12 days from 86 as well.
Salary and outlook in the United States
Cardiac sonographers are in high-demand in the country, earning above the average per annum salary of $67,170. By the middle of 2013, there were almost 60,000 sonographers working in the country, a good percentage of that was cardiac sonographers with high cardiac sonography salary. If you are studying sonography and are interested in specializing in the cardiovascular system inquire about a robotics program or class in your chosen school.