A new ultrasound-based imaging approach developed by Katherine Ferrara, PhD, and Byung Yoon, MD, PhD, among others, could transform how spinal conditions are diagnosed and treated, according to a study published July 25 in Science Advances.
The method captures dynamic, 3-D images of the spine without radiation exposure.
The custom system uses a wide, 384-element probe combined with diverging wave compounding to produce panoramic, real-time images of multiple vertebrae within seconds. The technology could guide high-precision procedures such as lumbar punctures while offering similar localization accuracy to CT scans at a fraction of the cost, according to the researchers.
Because it is portable and radiation-free, the device could expand access to spinal imaging in emergency care, bedside settings and resource-limited environments. The team is planning further studies in broader patient populations and exploring integration with 3D imaging capabilities.
