More Effective Ultrasound Using Naval Sonar Tech

Makarand writes "With obesity levels skyrocketing in the west it is becoming necessary to find more reliable ways of effectively scanning obese patients using ultrasound especially when the organ of interest in under layers of fat resulting in poor ultrasound images. Latest advances in ultrasound are increasing the accuracy of the imaging systems by using image enhancement methods borrowed from the Navy's sonar equipment according to this BBC News article. The Navy's sonar techniques effectively double the resolution in ultrasound systems. The technology could be in hospitals within a year."

Comments

Dangerous occupation

[fishdan]

Who wants to tell the 450lbs woman that you are going to scan her with the sonar that a Navy ship occasionally uses to detects whales?

Sonar's picking up--my God, what is that thing?

[Vishniac]

Just imagining someone so obese that they can only have an effective ultrasound done by a Navy submarine is enough to make me squirt milk out my nose.

Re:I'm really anxious for...

[lirkbald]

They've been doing that for a while. Seismic exploration is a very common technique for oil drilling and the like. You induce vibrations using explosives or something like a pile driver, and listen to the echoes.

Also I think there have been studies done on the vibratory modes of the sun. Not quite the same thing, but related. Found a new word while googling about it- Helioseismology. Gonna have to remember that one :-)

Re:Easy one this!

[Simon Field]

There are 560 calories in a Big Mac.

There are 310 calories in McDonalds' large Coke.

When 35% of the calories in a meal are removed, it can make quite a difference. A person could eat 3 Big Macs a day and still be under the recommended 2,000 calories. But add the Coke, and you are 610 calories over your limit.

If you throw away the bun, the Big Mac would probably fit in an Atkins diet plan, and maybe even taste better.