To describe Intelligent Ultrasound’s Needle Trainer as a simple simulator is very reductive. Our Simulation Technician tested it for us

Within clinical practice, knowing how to use an ultrasound scanner and being able to interpret images are fundamental aspects that need to be known and honed. A lot of practice is therefore necessary, which, as in most cases, can be done directly on the patient or through the use of specially developed devices.

In this article, I tell you about the Needle Trainer from Intelligent Ultrasound.

Although the simplicity of the name may be misleading, the Needle Trainer is a unique simulator because everything is based on images produced directly by the ultrasound machine on a real patient connected to the simulator, analysed in real time by the software.

The Manufacturer

Intelligent Ultrasound has been a leader in the design of highly specialised ultrasound training devices for years with a product line consisting mainly of: Needle Trainer, Heartworks, Babyworks, ScanTrainer and BodyWorks.

As you will read below, a key element that distinguishes this company, again in the ultrasound field, is artificial intelligence.

In Italy, Intelligent Ultrasound’s products are sold and technically supported by SIMULKARE, whom I thank for giving me the opportunity to test the product.

Composition

The simulator is wheeled and consists of:

• ultrasound monitor or tablet connected to the wireless probe
• a monitor on which the software user interface runs
• a larger monitor on which to view the ultrasound images during software processing
• retractable training needle, together with patches to protect the body from the
• device magnetic field, albeit invisible ;-), which serves to connect the retractable needle and the actual probe within the activity space

The main functions

The Needle Trainer has three functions:

• PNB Procedures
• Needle & Scan
• Offline Needle

PNB Procedures

To call the Needle Trainer just a simulator is quite reductive because of the PNB Procedures function and the artificial intelligence called ScanNav™ Anatomy.

ScanNav™ Anatomy Peripheral Nerve Block (PNB) is designed to improve the accuracy and standardisation of ultrasound image interpretation by providing a colour overlay of key anatomical structures during a live ultrasound scan.

ScanNav™ Anatomy is FDI-certified intelligence, i.e. it can be used within clinical practice, as it is certified, tested and validated for, precisely, the practice of locoregional anaesthesia.

Needle & Scan

Here you have the possibility of using the retractable needle combined with the image captured by the ultrasound scanner (General Electric or SonoSite), all thanks to the magnetic field generated, which serves to identify both elements within the space of action.

The operation is quite simple: you have to prepare the figure or the actual patient by attaching the protective patches at the points of interest, and immediately afterwards you can start practising with the ultrasound scanner and the retractable needle.

The combination of the ultrasound and Needle Trainer graphics is shown on the main screen in the image from the General Electric ultrasound tablet, cuts out the part of the instruments, which are still interacted with by the tablet, and reprocesses the images according to the retractable needle.

I did a comparison between the real needle and the image generated by the retractable needle and the rendering of the latter is really outstanding.

Offline Needle

This function is the simplest of the three, allowing you to practise simply with pre-downloaded videos. The Needle Trainer set comes with a rigid pad on which you can place the retractable needle and practise, without the need for an ultrasound machine.

Antonio Scalogna