Contactless ultrasonography scans pregnant reef manta ray

Designed, developed and manufactured by IMV imaging and field tested on wild reef manta rays by scientists from the Manta Trust and Cambridge University Veterinary School, the Duo-Scan:Go Oceanic can be taken to water depths of up to 30m for real-time scanning.

Debra Malcolm, UK & International marketing manager, IMV Imaging, told The Engineer via email that viable imagery can be obtained by getting within 10-20cm of a target object. Once in position, ultrasound can penetrate to a depth of 24cm.

IMV imaging’s SoundLink wireless technology relays imagery between the transducer and viewing screen on a smartphone contained in a waterproof housing. Malcolm added that the system can be used for 2.5 hours or longer, depending on scanning conditions.

Previous attempts to use ultrasonography on wild animals in water required scuba divers to take conventional scanners underwater in waterproof housings, often trailing cables attached to bulky viewing screens. A scanner used in recent ultrasound research on wild whale sharks by the Galapagos Whaleshark Project was reported to weigh 17kg, whereas the  Duo-Scan: Go Oceanic dive rig used in field tests weighs 1.8kg.