CONTACTLESS ULTRASOUND
The imagery can be obtained by getting within 10-20cm of a target object, once in position the ultrasound can penetrate to a depth of 24cm with the assistance of Wi-Fi and a smartphone as a viewing screen. The system can currently be used for 2.5 hours or longer, depending on the scanning conditions.
The researchers worked with Manta Trust in the Maldives which is home to the largest population of reef manta rays, a species that is under treat. The aim of creating the Duo-Scan:Go is to discover why there are annual fluctuations in breeding and why the rays breed in some areas but not others.
Dr Gareth Peace, from the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge said: “Using the scans, we’re able to determine the stages of maturity and when animals are becoming reproductively active. We can observe the stages of pregnancy, the development of the foetus and importantly, whether an animal maintains that pregnancy and gives birth to a live animal.
“Ultimately, our work aims to inform the conservation of manta rays both in the Maldives and other areas of the world, enabling the populations to survive and hopefully flourish. Our hope is that this research project will contribute to conserving the species for future generations.”
The world’s first contactless underwater ultrasound device has recently been used to scan a pregnant reef manta ray in the wild to obtain clear ultrasound images of its foetus.
The ultrasound device was designed and development by IMV imaging and field tested on wild reef manta rays by scientists from the Manta Trust and Cambridge University Veterinary School, the Duo-Scan:Go Oceanic can be taken to water depths of up to 30m for real-time scanning.
JUNE 2019 | MANE ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING | 7