The method know as three dimensional ultrasound is used during early pregnancy, it provides 3d pictures of the unborn baby. Most of the time the ultrasound images are collected and combined and animated to make a 4d ultrasound scan.

Three dimensional scans works in the same way to the normal ultrasound methods except that the ultrasound waves are directed from multiple directions. The ultrasound pulses can be reflected back then captured to provide info to construct a 3d picture in very much the same way as 3d movies. 3 dimesional ultrasound was devised in the usa.

It’s important to understand that sonologists worldwide always pictured 3d images of the body in their minds whilst doing 2d scans. However, until recently it was impossible to do this type of reconstruction on patient data acquired using ultasound scanning. With the introduction of ultrasound baby scans for the first time allowed us a peek into the brain of a sonologist and hence letting us view the images on the ultrasound machine.

3d imaging should utilize ultrasound energy following the same limits as conventional 2d ultrasound to create the 3d images. While there is no information of harm due to 3d ultrasound, its use in non-medical situations should be undertaken with an understanding of the risks involved.