Robotic Ultrasound Imaging: Technological Progresses and Application Prospects

Wenhao Wei; Xiangling Tian; Yifan Chen

doi:10.3788/LOP251179

Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, Volume. 62, Issue 18, 1817016(2025)

Robotic Ultrasound Imaging: Technological Progresses and Application Prospects

Wenhao Wei^1,2, Xiangling Tian^1、*, and Yifan Chen^1,2、**

¹Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Quzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Quzhou 324003, Zhejiang , China

²School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan , China

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Figures & Tables(11)

Fig. 1. Ultrasound examination robotic system^[18]

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Fig. 2. Workflow of robot-assisted ultrasound imaging

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Fig. 3. Overview of the control module for robotic ultrasound imaging^[4]

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Fig. 4. Principle of DRL

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Fig. 5. Automatic breast ultrasound robotic system and experimental setup^[67]

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Fig. 6. Operational console, and the web camera views for monitoring the robot and interacting with the patient^[71]

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Fig. 7. Ultrasound images obtained in clinical feasibility studies and side views of the scanning processes^[75]

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Fig. 8. Ultrasound robot^[77]. (a) Phantom experimental setup; (b) abdominal phantom with three marked regions

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Fig. 9. Fully autonomous thyroid robotic ultrasound system^[17]

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Table 1. Characteristics of ultrasonic imaging technology applications for robots

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Table 1. Characteristics of ultrasonic imaging technology applications for robots

Application area	Core technology/characteristics	Advantages/strengths	Limitations/challenges
Abdominal imaging（remote-controlled）	Teleoperation， 6-DOF robotic arm， can hold various conventional ultrasonic probes	Expert access for remote/underserved areas， reduced sonographer travel	Relies on stable communication link， operator skill at remote site for initial setup
Abdominal imaging （autonomous）	Autonomous path planning from 3D surface scan （RGB-D camera） or pre-op MRI， force-torque control， lightweight robot	Reduced operator dependency， potential for standardization， integrates with pre-operative data	Soft tissue deformation & patient motion， RGB-D accuracy limitations， advanced image-based feedback needed for acoustic window
Vascular ultrasonic	Autonomous vessel tracking， 3D reconstruction from B-mode images， artificial intelligence for segmentation	Improved reproducibility， potential for efficient screening	Complex vessel tortuosity， patient movement， calcifications affecting image quality
Cardiac ultrasonic	Teleoperation with artificial intelligence-based view classification and guidance， robotic assistance for holding probe steady	Addresses sonographer ergonomics， potential for remote expert consultation	Highly dynamic target （heart motion， breathing）， narrow acoustic windows， need significant operator skill
Obstetric ultrasonic	Remote guidance of local operator by expert sonographer， transmission of ultrasonic video and probe position	Increased access to specialized obstetric， timely diagnosis	Network latency issues， reliance on a skilled assistant at patient-side
Musculoskeletal ultrasonic	Image-based navigation （e.g.， using depth camera and ultrasonic）， standardized scan paths for 3D reconstruction	Non-invasive， radiation-free assessment， improved standardization over manual scans	Anatomical variability， maintaining consistent probe contact over complex bony surfaces
Thyroid ultrasonic	Fully autonomous scanning， artificial intelligence for thyroid localization， image optimization （force， pose）， and nodule detection	Potential for widespread， standardized thyroid screening without expert sonographers on-site	Generalizability to diverse patient anatomies and pathologies， handling unexpected artifacts

Table 2. Quantitative comparison of robotic ultrasound and standard ultrasound in thyroid imaging

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Table 2. Quantitative comparison of robotic ultrasound and standard ultrasound in thyroid imaging

Indicator	Remote robotic ultrasound value （mean±SD） /cm	Standard ultrasound value （mean±SD） /cm	p-value
Right lobe short axis	1.79±0.48	1.83±0.52	0.27
Right lobe long axis	4.08±0.67	4.3±0.81	0.05
Left lobe short axis	1.73±0.52	1.79±0.58	0.10
Left lobe long axis	4.17±0.78	4.1±0.73	0.41
Isthmus	0.302±0.142	0.285±0.136	0.23

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Wenhao Wei, Xiangling Tian, Yifan Chen. Robotic Ultrasound Imaging: Technological Progresses and Application Prospects[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2025, 62(18): 1817016

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Paper Information

Category: Medical Optics and Biotechnology

Received: May. 8, 2025

Accepted: Jun. 13, 2025

Published Online: Sep. 9, 2025

The Author Email: Xiangling Tian (xianglingt@sina.com), Yifan Chen (yifan.chen@uestc.edu.cn)

DOI:10.3788/LOP251179

CSTR:32186.14.LOP251179

Topics

laser devices and laser physics

Lasers and Laser Optics

Laser physics

laser manufacturing

Instrumentation, Measurement and Metrology