Researchers from the New Mexico University and National Taiwan University have developed an "origami style" ultrasound probe that when swallowed or threaded through blood vessels will give doctors a panoramic view of diseased blood vessels.
The probe, which is 1 millimeter across and 1 millimeter long, is shaped like a hexagonal cylinder. It is capable of showing the view from each side of the gadget as well as from the front.
The "origami-style" manufacturing process, developed by Jingjuang Chen and colleagues, consists of seven components that are each capable of emitting ultrasound and listening for the resulting echo. The components are then placed on a flat silicon wafer that was etched which allowed it to be folded up into the final hexagon form. Assembling the components in this manner allows the probe to examine in multiple directions simultaneously.
Similar types of ultrasound probes already exist however, they are uni-directional and can only examine in front of the unit or to the side or at best rotated.
If plans to test the device on animals are successful, researcher hope that it will afford doctors a more complete picture of new locations inside the human body. "It could be used to measure blood flow deep inside the brain," says Chen, "to identify the early stages of strokes or other disease."
[Source: Medgadget]
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