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The Second Coming of Ultrasound (wired.com)

Posted by msmash on from the second-life dept.

Ultrasound, which works on the principle of piezoelectricity, is finding a second lease of life in medicine, Wired outlines. Applying voltage to a piezoelectric crystal makes it vibrate, sending out a sound wave. When the echo that bounces back is converted into electrical signals, you get an image of, say, a fetus, or a submarine. But in the last few years, the lo-fi tech has reinvented itself in some weird new ways. From a report: Researchers are fitting people's heads with ultrasound-emitting helmets to treat tremors and Alzheimer's. They're using it to remotely activate cancer-fighting immune cells. Startups are designing swallowable capsules and ultrasonically vibrating enemas to shoot drugs into the bloodstream. One company is even using the shockwaves to heal wounds -- stuff Curie never could have even imagined. So how did this 100-year-old technology learn some new tricks? With the help of modern-day medical imaging, and lots and lots of bubbles.

7 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. It Was Gone? by Thelasko · · Score: 2

    Ultrasound was gone? What happened to it? Surely it wasn't replaced by massive and expensive MRI machines. What technology took it's place?

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  2. Here's 3 words that don't belong together... by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...ultrasonically vibrating enemas...

    [shudder]

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    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  3. A fetus or a submarine? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "When the echo that bounces back is converted into electrical signals, you get an image of, say, a fetus, or a submarine." ...which makes pre-natal checkups very, very exciting.
    "Congratulations Mrs Doe! It's an Ohio-class!"

    1. Re:A fetus or a submarine? by rogoshen1 · · Score: 3, Funny

      that would definitely require a sea section.

    2. Re:A fetus or a submarine? by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 3, Funny

      But we already have a generation called Baby Boomers

  4. Vibrating enemas? by mi · · Score: 4, Funny

    ultrasonically vibrating enemas

    Ok, this may be awesome...

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    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  5. !Gravis Ultrasound by r_naked · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was really looking forward to an updated GUS :(

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