New tech to give 3D capabilities to 2D ultrasound imaging systems

Pengfei Song, a researcher at the Beckman Institute and an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is leading the project, which is supported by a four-year, $2m award from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the US National Institutes of Health.

“Ultrasound is one of the most cost-effective medical imaging technologies,” Song said in a statement. “It’s the natural first stop in increasing accessibility to many clinical applications, such as providing care for patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases or cancer.”

Ultrasound imaging typically uses a handheld probe to send a beam of ultrasonic waves toward a target, like a tumour. Doctors can then determine its size, shape, and location based on how the waves bounce back. A drawback is that clinical ultrasound mostly operates in 2D, which restricts the range of view during a scan.

During a 2D ultrasound scan, a slight change in the angle of the probe or the patient’s posture can make objects appear larger or smaller than they are.