Feasibility and clinical accuracy of novel robot-assisted, remotely-performed abdominal ultrasound examination

Procedure - Utilisation of existing clinically used abdominal ultrasound systems where system probe is held by robotic arm. Sonographer utilises a gamepad to control the robotic arm system to acquire images. Any ultrasound system is permitted, and a specific vendor is utilised based on the discretion of the hospital. Sonographers will undergo a minimum of 15 hrs of virtual (software-based only) and hand-on simulator training, prior to human scanning. Standard operation manuals are provided to ensure correct and standardised use of the system. All participants will receive both procedures immediately after each other (consenting staff participants), or within 72hrs of each other (consenting patient participants); with the robotic arm used first and the manual probe used second (consenting staff participants), or the robotic arm used second after manual probe examination (performed for clinical purposes; sonographer blinded to the clinical exam)