School of Physics, Medical Ultrasound Physics and Technology Group, Centre for Industrial and Engineering Optics, Focas, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Health Professions Education Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
Prostate Cancer Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Department of Radiotherapy, Galway Clinic, Galway, Ireland.
Ultrasound Med Biol. 2021 Mar;47(3):833-846. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.11.020. Epub 2021 Jan 7.
The quality of the trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) image, and thus seed placement during the prostate brachytherapy (PBT) procedure, relies on the user's technical and clinical competency. Simulation-based medical education can provide a structured approach for the acquisition of clinical competencies, but the efficacy of the training relies on the fidelity of the training simulators. In this work, the design, development and preliminary evaluation of an anthropomorphic training phantom for TRUS PBT is described. TRUS clinical patient data informed the design of 3-D printed moulds to fabricate prostate targets. Tissue-mimicking materials were included that had the sonographic characteristics of the prostate and overlying tissues, as well as the clinically relevant physical response, to provide haptic feedback to the user. Through an iterative design process, prototypes were constructed. These prototypes were quantitatively evaluated using a specification list and evaluated by an experienced clinical brachytherapy oncologist; their feedback was implemented, and the results of this evaluation are presented.
经直肠超声（TRUS）图像的质量，以及前列腺近距离放射治疗（PBT）过程中的种子放置，都依赖于使用者的技术和临床能力。基于模拟的医学教育可以为临床能力的获得提供一种结构化的方法，但培训的效果依赖于培训模拟器的逼真度。在这项工作中，描述了一种用于 TRUS PBT 的仿人训练体模的设计、开发和初步评估。TRUS 临床患者数据为 3D 打印模具的设计提供了信息，以制造前列腺靶标。包括具有前列腺和覆盖组织的超声特征以及临床相关物理反应的组织模拟材料，为用户提供触觉反馈。通过迭代设计过程，构建了原型。使用规范列表对这些原型进行了定量评估，并由经验丰富的临床近距离放射治疗肿瘤学家进行了评估；他们的反馈被实施，并且呈现了此评估的结果。
