NCLUS

2023: Product Announcement

On August 24, 2023, US researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced the development of a new medical imaging system, the Laser Ultrasound Device (NCLUS). The device is capable of taking pictures of blood vessels, internal organs, muscle tissues and tendons in a non-contact way.

During the traditional ultrasound procedure, a special sensor is applied to the patient's skin, emitting high-frequency acoustic waves. They spread through the tissues of the body and are reflected from various structures. Echo from these waves allows you to form images of internal organs. Although modern medical ultrasound systems can detect tissue features up to a fraction of a millimeter, the method has some limitations. In particular, due to the pressure of the sensor on the skin, unpredictable changes in the properties of the tissue occur, which affect the paths of acoustic waves. In addition, even a small tilt of the probe changes the angle of view, which leads to image distortion and uncertainty, and this makes it difficult to diagnose.

Laser ultrasonic device

The new device solves these problems. The NCLUS complex fully automates the process of obtaining images, which eliminates errors associated with the actions of medical workers. The system uses a pulsed laser that transmits optical energy through the air to the surface of the skin. This causes instantaneous local heating and deformation of the skin due to thermoelasticity effects that result in the generation of ultrasonic waves.

Ultrasonic echoes returning from the depths of the tissues provoke vibrations on the surface of the skin. They are measured with high accuracy by a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer. Thus, it becomes possible to obtain images in a completely non-contact manner. Moreover, the new method does not cause any unpleasant sensations.^[1]

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