Cranial Ultrasound Simulation Model
Computer-based simulators and ultrasound-able 3D-printed brain phantoms — developed in partnership with the Sonographic Clinical Assessment of the Newborn (SCAN) Program.
The cranial ultrasound simulators let learners practise ultrasonography using a bank of images from patients with normal cranial structures and multiple pathologies, plus ultrasound-able 3D-printed heads with landmark brain structures. Preloaded images are selected via the computer program, while a mannequin with sensors embedded under the scalp lets the probe select corresponding image sequences to simulate real-life scanning. Components include a laptop connected to a sensor within the probe. The tools familiarize trainees with probe orientation, image-optimization skills, and ultrasound-machine knobology.
Brain Phantoms
Ultrasound-able 3D-printed heads with simplified key internal brain structures — the lateral ventricles, caudo-thalamic notch, and choroid plexus.
Computer-Based Cranial Ultrasound Simulators
- 3D-printed heads with pressure sensors at the anterior and mastoid fontanels.
- 3D-printed probes with Arduino sensors that interact with the sensors in the printed heads.
- Cranial ultrasonography software translates probe movements into images, simulating a real cranial ultrasound study.
Global implementation
Used in conferences and hands-on workshops across India, China, the US, UK, Kuwait, Oman, Colombia and Quito — with more than 1,000 participants in total. We follow up with centres afterward to help them build their programs and sustain learned skills.
Clinical skills & education
Integrated into our neonatology fellowship program. All of our neonatology fellows now train in neonatal cranial ultrasonography — compared with no formal training before the models were developed.
Quality improvement
Used to standardize the preterm brain-injury definition among radiologists and neonatologists. Two workshops in Calgary and Toronto brought together representatives from every Level III centre in the country; the resulting taskforce created a consensus practice guideline to standardize diagnosis and imaging in preterm infants nationwide.
Research & what's next
We tested the efficacy of simulation-based learning in gaining and sustaining ultrasonography skills and published the results in a peer-reviewed journal. In development: smart tracing of lateral-ventricle borders for surface-area measurement, side-by-side MRI/US slicing, interactive self-learning quizzes, user-contributed case libraries, expanded phantoms (corpus callosum, cerebellum, third ventricle), and cerebral-artery Doppler functionality.
