Ultrasound Imaging
A simple experimental setup shows students how ultrasonic imaging works.Copyright 2014 Violet Mwaffo, School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of NYU
Students learn about ultrasound and how it can be used to determine the shapes and contours of unseen objects. Using a one-dimensional ultrasound imaging device (either prepared by the teacher or put together by the students) that incorporates a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 intelligent brick and ultrasonic sensor, they measure and plot the shape of an unknown object covered by a box. Looking at the plotted data, they make inferences about the shape of the object and guess what it is. Students also learn how engineers use high-frequency waves in the design of medical imaging devices, the analysis of materials and oceanographic exploration. Pre/post quizzes, a worksheet and a LEGO rbt program are provided.
Scientific diagnosis depends on the acquisition of data. Imaging-based diagnosis is one example of a tool used to gather information for decision making. For this purpose, engineers have developed several devices, including x-rays and sonograms, which are commonly used in medicine; infrared thermo-graphic cameras and video surveillance cameras used in the military; and sonar, which is commonly used to detect underwater objects or defects and fatigue in machinery components. Among these devices, sonogram and sonar both rely on the use of ultrasound-based imagery to map the shapes of objects. Compared to x-rays, ultrasound is less harmful to the human body and thus widely used for diagnosis-based imaging in hospitals, industries and remote exploration.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Write a simple program for the LEGO EV3 intelligent brick.
- Gather and record data using an ultrasonic sensor.
- Scale data and make a plot on graph paper.
- Analyze the plot obtained to make inferences about the geometry of the hidden object.
- Infer the shape of the hidden object based on the one-dimensional projection of its shape.
- Determine the relationship between the grid size and the resolution of the ultrasound image.