A Doppler Simulator for Vascular Ultrasound Training

We will develop and test a simulator of diagnostic vascular ultrasound for use in medical education and professional certification. The simulator will include not only two-dimensional (2D) images but also Doppler spectral waveforms to simulate duplex ultrasound scanning. The rationale is that education in diagnostic ultrasound has traditionally been based on an extended duration of clinical exposure during training, with a relatively large number of procedures performed and interpreted under the supervisionof a qualified faculty member. However, this apprenticeship approach to training is rapidly becoming untenable due to inadequate patient exposure and limited faculty teaching time. Simulation has the potential to address these needs. The proposed projectbuilds on the results of our previous research for NIH, in which we developed an image- based computer modeling technique for simulating blood flow in dialysis access sites. This project also builds on the results of our previous research in which we deve