Generating first laser ultrasound images of humans

[Judi Lynn]

The technique may help remotely image and assess the health of infants, burn victims, and accident survivors in hard-to-reach places.

BY
AMIT MALEWAR
DECEMBER 20, 2019

Ultrasound has advantages compared to other imaging methods, including being nonionizing, relatively low cost, and portable. Current embodiments of ultrasound technology range from cart-based bedside systems to portable hand-held devices.

The method requires the placement of piezoelectric transducers in contact with the patient to transmit and then detect reflected and scattered acoustic waves at the body surface. This case may be limiting in situations where clinicians might want to image patients who don’t tolerate the probe well, such as babies, burn victims, or other patients with sensitive skin.

Now, MIT scientists have found a solution to this; they have developed a new laser ultrasound technique, an alternative to ultrasound that doesn’t require contact with the body to see inside a patient. The method leverages an eye- and a skin-safe laser system to remotely image the inside of a person.

For testing, scientists imaged the forearms of several volunteers and observed common tissue features such as muscle, fat, and bone, down to about 6 centimeters below the skin. These images, comparable to conventional ultrasound, were produced using remote lasers focused on a volunteer from half a meter away.

More:
https://www.techexplorist.com/generating-first-laser-ultrasound-images-humans/28638/?utm_source=BNA&utm_medium=BNA&utm_campaign=BNA

[mitch96]

1. neat! I wonder how they determine what frequency to use

and it that is part of the equation... Conventional ultrasound plays a dance between piezo electric frequency, resolution and penetration depth.. I'm curious if the laser has the same constraints. Or does the laser transmits the frequencies to a piezo or some other type detector to create the images......hummmmm
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