4d scans - www.babyultrasound.co.uk
The method know as three dimensional ultrasound is used during early pregnancy, it provides 3d pictures of the unborn baby. Most times the ultrasound images are rapidly collected and combined and animated to created a 4d scan.
Three dimensional scans works similarly to the traditional ultrasound except that the ultrasound waves can be sent from multiple directions. The ultrasound pulses are reflected back then captured to provide info to construct a 3d picture in in a similar manner to 3d pictures. 3 dimesional ultrasound was started by stephen smith and olaf von ramm.
It is important to understand that sonologists all over the world always pictured three-dimensional images of the body in their minds while doing their 2d scans. However, until recently it was very difficult to do this kind of reconstruction on patient data acquired using ultrasound. The advent of 4d scans for the first time allowed us a view into the brain of a sonologist and hence letting us view the images on the ultrasound machine.
4d ultrasound imaging should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. There is no data to suggest harm due to 3d ultasound scanning, its use in non-medical situations should be undertaken with an understanding of the risks that exist.
