MIT Bio-Medical Engineers Add More Precision To Ultrasound Measurements

Sonograms aka ultrasound images enable doctors to examine the unborn child and detect malfunctions early. A team of biomedical engineers lead by Brian W. Anthony, co-director of MIT’s Medical Electronic Device Realization Center (MEDRC) has made it possible for any untrained personnel to perform basic ultrasound tests and a trained worker to carry out detailed and accurate measurements. Researchers say that the improvements in this technology may allow gathering of fare more information that currently possible. The work was recently presented at International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging in Barcelona, Spain.



Key mprovements have been done on two fronts: First, Researchers have figured out a way to compensate for the variations in force applied by the sonographer. This allows the receiver to capture finer images. Second, the researchers can now map the exact location on the skin where the readings were taken. The ultrasound device has been equipped with sensors and servomotors which can quickly respond to changes in forces. This makes it easier to analyse how  the images change because of the varying forces. A tiny camera mounted on the probe captures the skin patterns and analyses them for uniqueness. This helps researchers track the exact location of the readings.


As the technology progresses, the Ultrasound will partially replace CT scans and offer a more economical solution to the patients. Further information about this advancement can be obtained from official MIT page.