A University of British Columbia (UBC) researcher has earned national acclaim for his groundbreaking work in telemedicine. David Black, a PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Computing Engineering, has been awarded the prestigious Mitacs Innovation Award – Outstanding Innovation for his development of an immersive, mixed reality tele-ultrasound system.
The innovative technology enables remote ultrasound procedures, allowing patients in rural or underserved areas to access medical imaging without traveling long distances. Black’s system pairs a mixed reality headset and point-of-care ultrasound probe at the patient’s location with a haptic-enabled virtual probe and display operated by a remote expert. Using real-time video and a high-speed network, the expert can “feel” the patient’s anatomy as if performing the procedure in person, while guiding the on-site user.
“Other teleoperation systems often rely on costly robots to replicate the expert’s motion, which adds complexity and expense,” Black explained. “Our approach replaces robots with human operators and uses lower-cost technology that works over a 5G cellular network, making it a much more viable real-world solution.”
Supported by Mitacs, a national innovation organization funded by the federal and provincial governments, Black’s research addresses critical gaps in healthcare access. A prototype system recently underwent successful testing in Skidegate, B.C., performing ultrasounds at a distance of 750 kilometers. Moving forward, Black aims to enhance the system for more complex scans, such as obstetrics, with the goal of launching a start-up to commercialize the technology.
The potential impact is transformative. For example, the community of Bella Bella spends up to $500,000 annually transporting patients to Vancouver for ultrasounds. Black’s system could bring expert imaging capabilities to local centers, homes, or even paramedics in the field, drastically reducing costs and improving convenience.
“Mitacs’s support has been instrumental,” Black noted. “It allowed us to rapidly advance our technology and forge partnerships with industry leaders like Rogers Communications, who contribute valuable expertise and connections.”
The Mitacs Innovation Award – Outstanding Innovation recognizes Canadian researchers whose work has significant societal and economic potential. Black’s project exemplifies this ethos, promising a future where remote communities have greater access to critical healthcare services.
As Black continues optimizing the system and preparing for commercialization, his work represents a step forward in equitable healthcare access and technological innovation.
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