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Predictive anatomical guidance system helps novice users acquire trauma ultrasound images. Ultrasound is widely used in emergency and trauma care because it can provide rapid information at a patient's bedside. One of its most common applications is the focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination, which helps clinicians look for signs of internal bleeding and free fluid in injured patients. Discover more Politics (Right) However, ultrasound is highly dependent on the operator. Obtaining useful images requires knowledge of anatomy, probe positioning and hand movements, making the technique difficult for inexperienced users to learn. Research published in the Journal of Medical Imaging describes a new system designed to help novice users locate the correct ultrasound views more reliably during trauma examinations. The research team, led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, developed an anatomically guided ultrasound acquisition system that combines a subject-specific predictive anatomical model with real-time ultrasound imaging and mixed-reality guidance. The goal was to help novice users position and orient the ultrasound probe, even when prior medical imaging of the patient is not available. Body measurements guide probe placement. The system uses external body measurements to generate a predicted model of the individual's internal anatomy and aligns that model with the body. As the user moves the tracked ultrasound probe, a mixed-reality headset displays live imaging and anatomical information to guide probe placement and movement. The researchers focused on trauma ultrasound because the exam requires several standardized views that can be challenging for beginners to obtain consistently. To evaluate the approach, the investigators tested the system with novice users performing ultrasound scans. Participants used the guidance platform to locate and capture trauma-relevant ultrasound views. Their performance was compared with more conventional ultrasound acquisition methods. The study assessed factors including image quality, the ability to obtain the required anatomical views and user performance during scanning. Novices capture target views more reliably. The results showed that anatomical guidance helped inexperienced users acquire clinically relevant ultrasound images more successfully. Users were better able to identify the appropriate scanning locations and obtain views that matched the desired anatomical targets. The authors found that the approach could help bridge the gap between advanced imaging data and bedside ultrasound. By supplying anatomical context during scanning, the system provided users with information that would normally come from extensive training and experience. The results suggest that image-guided assistance may make ultrasound more accessible to users who do not perform the procedure regularly. Potential beyond trauma examinations. The work could have implications for emergency medicine, trauma care and other settings where rapid imaging is needed but expert ultrasound operators may not always be available. Training remains essential, the researchers note, but guidance technologies could help users obtain more reliable images while reducing cognitive workload during examinations. The study adds to ongoing efforts to make medical imaging easier to use at the point of care. As ultrasound devices become increasingly portable, systems that provide predictive anatomical guidance may help extend the benefits of bedside imaging to a broader range of health care providers while supporting more consistent image acquisition. More information. Robert S. Armiger et al, Development and evaluation of an anatomically guided system for ultrasound image acquisition in trauma assessment, Journal of Medical Imaging (2026). DOI: 10.1117/1.jmi.13.4.045001 Who's behind this story? MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Full profile Discover more Government Newspapers Campaigns & Elections Citation: Predictive anatomical guidance system helps novice users acquire trauma ultrasound images (2026, September 23) retrieved 24 September 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-anatomical-guidance-novice-users-trauma.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Johns Hopkins APL expands maritime research capabilities with new test vessel. Sep 22, 2026 Katie kerrigan. Deploying the next generation of technologies for warfighters requires more than innovative ideas - it requires the opportunities to evaluate those ideas in realistic operational environments. To accelerate the development and transition of emerging capabilities, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, has expanded its maritime testing capabilities with the addition of the Sea++, a dedicated test boat that provides researchers with a flexible platform for on-water experimentation, demonstrations, and prototype evaluation. The custom-designed 36-foot utility vessel, christened Sea++ in a nod to the foundational programming language C++, is based near Annapolis, Maryland, and serves as a configurable research platform for testing maritime technologies across a broad range of applications. In addition to enabling rapid experimentation, the vessel reduces many of the logistical constraints associated with chartering commercial vessels, allowing research teams to move from concept to on-water testing in weeks rather than months. "Maintaining our maritime advantage depends on our ability to learn and adapt faster than emerging threats," said Vernon Parks, who leads APL's Sea Control Mission Area. "The Sea++ gives us a flexible environment to rapidly evaluate new ideas, reduce technical risk, and deliver more mature capabilities to our sponsors." Designed with adaptability in mind, the vessel is equipped with a modular electronics rack, internet connectivity, integrated lifting systems including an A-frame and movable davit (boat crane) for deploying and recovering equipment, and dedicated mounting points that allow it to be quickly configured for a wide range of experiments, testing everything from autonomous surface vessels and advanced sensors to communications systems, robotics, and other emerging maritime capabilities. In one demonstration, the vessel showcased how unmanned systems, including unmanned aerial and surface vessels (UAVs and USVs, respectively), could be used to enable agile logistics for resupplying platforms deployed far from sea. In the demonstration, UAVs landed on the Sea++ as it was transiting in the water, allowing engineers to fine-tune the perception, guidance, and control required for UAVs to land on a moving target. In another experiment, APL researchers ventured aboard the Sea++ to test the Vitals for Open-water Location and Tracking (VOLT) system. VOLT is a compact, water-resistant device designed for search-and-rescue missions. Worn beneath the collar, it transmits the sailor's position over satellite links and provides confirmation that help is on the way. "Sea++ provides far more than just a platform to conduct our testing," said Jason Tiffany, an APL engineer and principal investigator of VOLT. "Its onboard communications and connectivity allowed us to maintain real-time coordination with our Coast Guard partners and keep our sponsor engaged throughout the test. APL's captains went above and beyond to support the effort, from capturing aerial imagery that gave us valuable additional perspective to safely recovering equipment using the vessel's integrated lifting systems. Those capabilities helped make the test both more efficient and successful." Beyond accelerating access to on-water testing, Sea++ has expanded where and when researchers can operate. During one test, the team traveled more than 100 nautical miles to Cape Charles, Virginia, to collect data, an expedition that would not have been practical using smaller platforms. The vessel's enclosed cabin also enables testing in colder weather and more challenging sea conditions, providing a protected workspace for researchers while exposing technologies to operationally relevant maritime environments. "Instead of engineers staying on shore while we're out on the water relaying information back and forth, they can now be onboard to see the testing firsthand," said Nick Duff, a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain and maritime electrician at APL. "That immediate visibility gives them a much better understanding of what's happening and helps streamline both software and hardware development." For projects involving sensitive technologies, operating from a Laboratory-owned and -managed platform also provides greater flexibility to support secure testing activities without many of the constraints associated with commercial vessels. "Whether a team is developing autonomous systems, testing new sensors, or evaluating emerging technologies, this vessel makes it easier to get on the water, experiment, and iterate," said Adam Watkins, who oversees APL's Maritime Robotics Group and Sea++ operations. "By removing many of the logistical barriers to testing, we're helping engineers move at the pace today's missions demand." Areas of impact. Mission Area. The Applied Physics Laboratory, a not-for-profit division of The Johns Hopkins University, meets critical national challenges through the innovative application of science and technology. For more information, visit www.jhuapl.edu. Media contact.

Scrum Alliance & Johns Hopkins drive healthcare agility. For Immediate Release: 09/17/2026 06:21:39 PM DENVER, CO - September 16, 2026 - Bringing a highly anticipated educational initiative to fruition, Scrum Alliance(R) and Johns Hopkins University today launched the first two courses in a groundbreaking series designed specifically for the healthcare sector. The collaboration comes at a crucial time: Modern healthcare systems face unprecedented pressure to adapt, innovate, and adopt emerging technologies while navigating operational complexity. "The healthcare industry needs agility today more than ever," said Rebecca Federspiel, Associate Director and Head of Product at Scrum Alliance. "Our collaboration with Johns Hopkins University is addressing that demand. By combining Johns Hopkins' clinical and systems engineering excellence with Scrum Alliance's leadership in adaptive ways of working, we're giving professionals in the healthcare industry the practical tools they need to turn data and AI disruption into better patient outcomes." The two on-demand courses launching today mark the first wave of this collaboration between the two organizations: * AI in Healthcare: Designing Responsible, Human-Centered Systems. Designed for clinical directors, innovation leads, compliance managers, and similar roles, this course equips leaders to bridge the gap between technical innovation and patient-centered care by offering a systems-thinking framework for implementing AI responsibly and at scale. * Data-Driven Healthcare: Turning Data into Better Patient Outcomes. Built for analytics managers, quality directors, and clinical leads, this course helps professionals move beyond static reporting toward an agile, iterative approach to analytics that directly informs day-to-day operational and clinical decision-making. "The challenges facing healthcare today require more than technical expertise alone - they demand leaders who can navigate complexity, align cross-functional teams, and responsibly implement innovation at scale," said Paul Huckett, Associate Dean, Johns Hopkins Engineering Executive and Professional Education. "That is why this collaboration between Johns Hopkins University and Scrum Alliance is so important. By combining Johns Hopkins' strengths in systems engineering, AI, and healthcare innovation with Scrum Alliance's global leadership in agile and adaptive ways of working, we are creating a learning experience that is both strategically relevant and immediately applicable. Learners will gain not only the technical and organizational frameworks needed to lead AI initiatives, but also the mindset and leadership capabilities required to drive meaningful, human-centered transformation within healthcare systems." Geared toward professionals at all organizational levels, these on-demand courses are available globally. Participants who complete a course receive a microcredential from Johns Hopkins University, and a Scrum Alliance microcredential, digital badge, and two-year professional membership. Two additional courses in the series will launch in the coming weeks. About Scrum Alliance Scrum Alliance is a nonprofit organization that enables professionals to solve complex problems and deliver value efficiently through agile education, skills recognition, and connection to a global community of experts. The organization envisions a world where agile is for anyone - fostering collaboration, adaptability, and better outcomes for all. For more information, visit www.scrumalliance.org. About Johns Hopkins Engineering The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering advances engineering education, research, and innovation to address some of society's most complex challenges. Through its extensive work in healthcare systems engineering, the Whiting School brings together expertise in systems engineering, operations, technology, and data to improve the safety, efficiency, and performance of healthcare delivery. This work is strengthened by Johns Hopkins' longstanding collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, whose interdisciplinary expertise in systems engineering, applied research, and complex systems has contributed to innovations across healthcare and other mission-critical sectors. For more information, visit engineering.jhu.edu.