SonoBox: Development of a robotic ultrasound tomograph for the ultrasound diagnosis of pediatric forearm fractures

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Floris Ernst
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology ; Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 537676532

The "SonoBox" project aims to develop ultrasound-based, non-contact and automated imaging for the diagnosis of childhood forearm fractures. These are common causes of doctor's visits in children and adolescents. In most cases, an X-ray examination is performed, but it is often unremarkable and poses a hazard due to the increased radiation sensitivity of infantile tissues. Ultrasound, as a radiation-free and efficient method, could replace the X-ray examination, but the acceptance in the medical profession and the manual effort limit its use. In "SonoBox" we therefore plan to develop a technology to automate data acquisition and contactless performance of the ultrasound procedure. The goals are to reduce radiation exposure, enable point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics, shorten examination time, automate imaging, use in telemedicine, and reduce pain. Here, the arm with suspected fracture is placed in a water tank in which the ultrasound probe is moved robotically and without contact. Image processing and robotic control are used to produce painless, fast and accurate tomography. Challenges are stable non-contact imaging, determination of an optimal trajectory, generation of a tomogram with sufficient resolution and accuracy, and hygienic requirements. In "SonoBox" we combine hardware and software to enable hazard-free volume imaging to simplify diagnosis.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Ludger Tüshaus