A computer based simulator for ultrasound guided needle insertion procedures

A system for the simulation of needle insertion procedures under ultrasound guidance is presented. This is a core skill in interventional radiology, currently acquired on an apprenticeship basis. The system is designed to improve the early stages of training, and detect people with poor natural ability. The simulator is based on a volumetric data set which is non-rigidly aligned to a physical mannequin surface. Magnetic 3D position sensors allow the generation of ‘virtual ultrasound’ images based on the position of a mock ultrasound probe and needle. The calibration procedures required for this are presented. Metrics for skill measurement are presented and evaluated, and it is shown that a set of 10 novice users increase their skill levels after structured practice.