3-D Ultrasonic Holography Technology

3-D Ultrasonic Holography Technology

German Company Innovation Introduces 3-D Ultrasonic Holography Technology. Non-invasive technology offers higher resolution, better reproducible for ultrasound scanning of the abdomen, joints and breasts.

October 17, 2016 — Innovation GmbH recently announced the launch of its new 3-D ultrasonic holography technology, a non-invasive technology that allows devices to be equipped for ultrasound of the abdomen, joints or breasts.

Preventative and postoperative breast examinations can be conducted as often as necessary, because the technology doesn't use dangerous radiation. The holographic ultrasound images have a much higher resolution than classic ultrasound can provide, significantly reducing the number of false-positive and false-negative findings.

Another advantage of 3-D ultrasonic holography is the reproducibility of the images. This makes it possible to use automated or computer-based data interpretation for mammograms. Even the smallest changes of 0.1 mm are reliably detected. The novel method can even recognize micro calcifications.

The ultrasound transducer is easy to use, minimizing training time for personnel performing holographic ultrasound. In classic ultrasound, a lot of repositioning is necessary to detect various structures from all possible angles of incidence.

The importance of 3D ultrasound holography when used for breast ultrasonography

According to “The World breast cancer report 2012” 1.5 million diagnosed cases of breast cancer were counted in 2011. According to WHO, each year 450,000 people die from this disease. In 2012, an estimated 226,870 women and 2,150 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States; approximately 39,510 women and 410 men died. The 5-year survival rate worldwide is 61%; in developed countries such as the United States 89%. If the cancer is detected at an early stage, the rate could be close to 100% .

Regular breast examinations through mammography make it possible to detect breast cancer at the earliest possible stage, increasing the chances of survival of those affected. A shortcoming of mammography are the false positive and false negative results. The sensitivity of the examination lies between 70 and 75 percent, meaning 25 to 30 percent of breast cancers go undetected despite mammography. If the next examination takes place after two years due to fear of too much radiation exposure, these false negative results may significantly impede successful treatment.

Breast cancer specialists believe that around a quarter of breast cancer diagnoses are wrong. Thousands of over diagnosed women will be treated using mammography screening without reason. With false positive findings, especially the mental aspect is paramount: women who receive this diagnosis are unnecessarily alarmed and have to undergo further unnecessary procedures.

Another downside is from over diagnosis: There are breast cancers that are dormant or grow so slowly that they do not affect women at all. These cases cannot be reliably distinguished from dangerous tumors in a mammography. They would therefore be diagnosed as breast cancer and are unnecessarily treated.

surface of a body and the intensity and spectral composition of its emiThermography

Thermography is a printing or imaging method. The term comes from the Greek words "therme," meaning heat and "graphos," meaning writing or drawing. The printing method, known as thermographic printing uses heat to create an image. The imaging method, known as thermographic imaging captures infrared energy emitted by the subject.

Principles of thermography

Every object with a temperature over the absolute zero point (0 Kelvin =             -273,15 °C) emits infrared (IR) radiation. The human eye cannot perceive this, as it is more or less blind at this wavelength. Not the thermal imager. Its central element, the detector, is sensitive to IR radiation. Based on the intensity of the IR radiation, it determines the temperature of the object's surface, and makes it visible for the human eye with a thermal image. This process is referred to as thermography.

In order to make the IR radiation visible, the detector records it, converts it into an electric signal, and gives each signal a certain colour which is then shown in the display of the thermal imager. In principle, thermal imagers thus translate wavelengths from the infrared spectrum into wavelengths which are visible to the human eye (colours).

Incidentally, contrary to a relatively common misconception, one cannot look inside an object with a thermal imager, one can only visualize its surface temperature.

Infrared

 Infrared thermography

Infrared thermography is equipment or method, which detects infrared energy emitted from object, converts it to temperature, and displays image of temperature distribution.

a body By determining its radiation intensity the temperature of anThe principle of infrared thermography is based on the physical phenomenon that any body of a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15 °C) emits electromagnetic radiation. There is clear correlation between the surface of a body and the intensity and spectral composition of its emitted radiation.ect can thereby be determined in a non-contact way.

zero (-273.15 °C) emits electromagnetic radiation. There is clear correlation between the surface of a body and the intensity and spectral composition of