Delhi, Aug 11: What happens when AIIMS, IIT Delhi, and Addverb (a company that makes applications of robotics) come together?
It becomes possible to get an ultrasound scan from anywhere!
The Problem
Many Indians live in villages or remote areas where they do not have access to medical facilities. Various organisations have tried to do telemedicine (giving advice/consultation over telephone), remote video consultations, etc., to solve this problem of doctor availability and healthcare in rural areas.
One of the challenges that still remain is diagnostic facilities in remote areas. Ultrasonography is a technique that uses sound waves to create an ‘image’ of the organs of the body. These sound waves are not as invasive (harmful) as X rays. So, USG (ultrasonography) is considered a safe diagnostic method (diagnosis to find out what happened. A diagnostic device or method is something that helps us find out what has happened. X rays, blood tests, etc. all help doctors understand what is happening inside the body of the patient.)
But USG also needs trained doctors to conduct these tests. How do we ensure that all villages have access to radiologists (special doctors who perform USG)?
The Solution
As you can see, a robotic scanner can be placed where the patient is. The doctor can control the scanner from anywhere. This solution was developed jointly by IIT Delhi, AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), and Addverb Technologies – a company that works to create useful robots.
The scanner was tested at AIIMS, Delhi. The solution was found to work well. The patients were happy with the experience too. The next stage would be to deploy the solution in real-life usage.