Engineers from the University of Hong Kong have developed an AI-assisted ultrasound lens that can clearly visualise the heart and lungs through the rib cage, opening the door to faster bedside diagnosis in emergency settings without relying on radiation-based scans.
The ultrasound lens is made up of metamaterials; it precisely controls ultrasound waves so that it penetrates the rib structures while reducing reflection and scattering.
Meanwhile, the AI component of this imaging technology "provides the 'software' intelligence to determine the exact shape needed for each patient's unique anatomy," while eliminating individual variability and enabling dynamic zoom.
Based on the HKU research team's validation study, SonoMeta achieved a penetration depth of at least 10 cm, a spatial resolution of less than 500 micrometres, and a 9.3 decibels increase in signal-to-noise ratio.
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