Baby scanning - www.babyultrasound.co.uk
The method know as three dimensional ultrasound scanning is that can be used when a woman is in early pregnancy, it can provide 3d pictures of the unborn child. Most of the time these ultrasound samples are quickly collected and joined together and made into a movie to make a “4d ultrasound”.
Three dimensional scanning works in the same way to the usual ultrasound methods except that the ultrasound scanning pulses can be directed from multiple directions. The waves can be reflected back and captured and provide information to construct a 3d picture in in a similar manner to 3d movies. 3 dimesional ultasound scanning was started by stephen smith and olaf von ramm at duke university.
It is important to understand that sonologists everywhere always pictured 3d images of anatomy or pathology in their minds while doing 2d scans. However, until recently it was impossible to do this kind of reconstruction on on data using ultasound scanning. With the introduction of 4d scans for the first time allowed us a peek into the thinking of a sonologist and hence letting us view the images on the ultrasound machine.
The 3d/4d ultrasound image should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. While there is no information of harm due to 3d ultasound scanning, its use in non-medical situations needs to be undertaken with an understanding of the risks that may exist.
