A team from NTU Singapore has reinvented the ultrasound with 3D printed lenses

Orange County, CA - February 14th 2017 - The history of obstetric ultrasound began in the 1950’s with Dr. Ian Donald. During World War II Donald was a member of the Royal Air Force where he became captivated by radar and sonar technology. After returning from war he became the regius professor of midwifery at the University of Glasgow, where he expanded on his interests. An inventor at heart, Donald began putting his effort towards implementing sonar into medical equipment.

After rigorous amounts of research and a lot of skepticism from his peers, Donald gained creditability in his performance of a vaginal ultrasound. Previously diagnosed as inoperable stomach cancer, Donald found a large cyst on the woman’s ovary. When removed, the patient’s health returned and in the success of the procedure, it wasn’t long till obstetric ultrasounds became routine in Scottland.

Now in 2017, scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a new ultrasound device that utilizes a 3D printed resin lens for higher quality fetal images.

A team from NTU Singapore has reinvented the ultrasound with 3D printed lenses

3D printing reinvents the manufacturing process, enabling the creation of unique and complex devices. In turn, the way medical devices are created needs to be rethought,” said NTU Singapore associate professor Claus-Dieter Ohl.

Traditional ultrasound devices generate ultrasound waves by heating up a glass lens with sound waves creating high frequency vibrations as the lens expands. These lenses, in focusing the ultrasound waves, have a finite number of shapes they can form, mostly restricted to rectangles and cones which reduces clarity of the image.

3D printing is able to construct lenses of intricate shapes, producing sharper fetal images. The shapes allow the ultrasound waves to be pointed at multiple areas and to target specific spaces for a more complete image. The printed lenses are also inexpensive and more easily produced, allowing a broader expanse of people to access ultrasound imaging.

This is an exciting discovery for the scientific community as it opens new doors for research and medical surgery,” Ohl said.

The improved image quality allows for better handling and exact movements in both invasive and non-invasive procedures. Its creation has the ability to spark new medical techniques, as well as increase research opportunities to further understand its applications for aid. The team is interested to test how the sound waves measure the elastic properties of cells. How the cells respond to the force of the soundwave could distinguish between harmful and benign tumor cells.

The team is now preparing to launch a dialogue with manufacturers and healthcare partners to begin processing and development of a prototype for medical and research application.

To read more on their study click here.

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A team from NTU Singapore has reinvented the ultrasound with 3D printed lenses Orange County, CA – February 14th 2017 – The history of obstetric ultrasound began in the 1950’s with Dr. Ian Donald. During World War II Donald was a member of the Royal Air Force where he became captivated by radar and sonar technology. After […]