4D ultrasonic measurements—A new approach using mechanical image dissection techniques

For the acquisition of 4D ultrasonic images, high priced control and evaluation hardware and complex sensor types (e.g. ultrasonic arrays) are required. Up to now 4D ultrasonic acquisition is primarily used for medical diagnostics, where it has become an increasingly important imaging method with benefits already proven in clinical practice for diagnostic confidence and accuracy. In order to facilitate near real-time ultrasonic measurements also for the use in industrial applications, system costs have to be reduced significantly. This paper describes the application of the Nipkow-Disc principle for the achievement of fast three-dimensional ultrasonic measurements. The realisation of the prototype system and a proof-of-principle in terms of evaluation examples and promising measurement results will be presented for the first time in this article. In this context, it will also be shown that cost-effective industrial ultrasonic devices and sensors are adequate to create 4D ultrasonic images.