Pilot Study of Robot-Assisted Teleultrasound Based on 5G Network: A New Feasible Strategy for Early Imaging Assessment During COVID-19 Pandemic

IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2020 Nov;67(11):2241-2248. doi: 10.1109/TUFFC.2020.3020721. Epub 2020 Sep 3.

Abstract

Early diagnosis is critical for the prevention and control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We attempted to apply a protocol using teleultrasound, which is supported by the 5G network, to explore the feasibility of solving the problem of early imaging assessment of COVID-19. Four male patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were hospitalized in isolation wards in two different cities. Ultrasound specialists, located in two other different cities, carried out the robot-assisted teleultrasound and remote consultation in order to settle the problem of early cardiopulmonary evaluation. Lung ultrasound, brief echocardiography, and blood volume assessment were performed. Whenever difficulties of remote manipulation and diagnosis occurred, the alternative examination was repeated by a specialist from another city, and in sequence, remote consultation was conducted immediately to meet the consensus. The ultrasound specialists successfully completed the telerobotic ultrasound. Lung ultrasound indicated signs of pneumonia with varying degrees in all cases and mild pleural effusion in one case. No abnormalities of cardiac structure and function and blood volume were detected. Remote consultation on the issue of manipulation practice, and the diagnosis in one case was conducted. The cardiopulmonary information was delivered to the frontline clinicians immediately for further treatment. The practice of teleultrasound protocol makes early diagnosis and repeated assessment available in the isolation ward. Ultrasound specialists can be protected from infection, and personal protective equipment can be spared. Quality control can be ensured by remote consultations among doctors. This protocol is worth consideration as a feasible strategy for early imaging assessment in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnostic imaging*
  • Robotics / methods*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Telemedicine / methods*
  • Ultrasonography / methods*

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province under Grant 819QN376, in part by the Major Science and Technology Project of Hainan Province under Grant ZDKJ2019012, in part by theMilitaryMedicalResearch Programof PLA General Hospital under Grant CX19025 and Grant QNC19050, and in part by the National MOST “13.5” Key Projects under Grant 2016YFC0105006. The work of Faqin Lv was supported by the Talents Development Project of Sanya City.