[HN Gopher] Building a Raspberry Pi based ultrasound imaging dev...
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       Building a Raspberry Pi based ultrasound imaging development
       platform
        
       Author : davikr
       Score  : 95 points
       Date   : 2023-05-24 14:25 UTC (8 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (kelu124.gitbooks.io)
 (TXT) w3m dump (kelu124.gitbooks.io)
        
       | 1MachineElf wrote:
       | Having had my first ultrasound ever a couple of weeks ago, I was
       | immediately curious about what it takes to build one. Great to
       | see this today on HN.
        
       | giantg2 wrote:
       | I've been trying to get a Pi Zero 2 for a while. Can't find it
       | anywhere. I can't seem to make any alternatives for the project
       | work due mostly to a lack of support/docs/libraries and my own
       | lack of expertise. In theory it should work with ESP32 (first
       | preference), Teensy 4.1, and possibly a Banana Pi M2 Zero. I got
       | it to basically work on an old Pi Zero, but it was laggy due to
       | xwindows and only one slow core. Maybe I can figure out how to
       | slim it down more, but I doubt it. I guess I'm waiting an unknown
       | time for a Pi Zero 2...
        
         | ilyt wrote:
         | Kinda why I don't really like the SBC ecosystem. So many
         | choices, so many random things you discover won't work, or tie
         | you to some ancient kernel or binary blob
         | 
         | There are comparison charts but I don't think I have found one
         | that mentions which things will just work out of the box on
         | stock vanilla kernel and which require work.
        
         | HeyLaughingBoy wrote:
         | What are you trying to do? Often, the reason something is
         | difficult is simply due to choosing the wrong platform.
        
       | barbazoo wrote:
       | Read https://kelu124.gitbooks.io/echomods/content/caution.html
       | and other sources before trying this out on your baby belly, this
       | isn't without risk.
        
         | NavinF wrote:
         | That's mostly CYA. The safety considerations are pretty obvious
         | to anyone that knows how to drive an ultrasound transducer and
         | it takes a lotta power to cause an ultrasound burn. Nothing in
         | this universe is "without risk".
         | 
         | Also worth mentioning that there are practical uses for such
         | high power levels which you'd never use for imaging. Eg
         | therapeutic ultrasound
        
       | speps wrote:
       | Actual title: Building a Raspberry Pi based ultrasound imaging
       | development platform
        
         | dang wrote:
         | Fixed. Thanks!
        
       | yardie wrote:
       | What is this magical creature called Raspberry Pi? I've been
       | trying to order a few for months. But they appear to be OOS or
       | flippers scalpers have bought up available inventory and are
       | charging outrageous markups.
       | 
       | I was almost able to order one through Adafruit but checkout
       | never completed.
       | 
       | I am envious and relieved others are able to get their hands on
       | them to build their projects. I've had to redesign a few of mine
       | to use power hungry NUCs.
        
         | SpliffnCola wrote:
         | I have a Pi 3 B you can buy off me if you're interested.
        
           | lnsru wrote:
           | 3x compute modules 4, not used plus 2x carrier boards also
           | not used for sale here. Let's make small Hacker bazar. Wanted
           | to use them for a project. Then I wasn't able to buy more and
           | went with FPGA. I hope it's not against forum rules.
        
         | adolph wrote:
         | I think projects sometimes use the trade name "Raspberry Pi" as
         | a shorter form of SBC with plenty of GPIO. Every week there are
         | multiple semi-clone/specialized/enhanced Banana Pi, Lichee Pi,
         | BigTreeTech, ARM or RISC-V, etc.
         | 
         | https://www.cnx-software.com/news/raspberry-pi/
        
         | h2odragon wrote:
         | I wonder if the supply can truly be that limited or am I just
         | lucky enough to keep hearing about it? I haven't ordered a Pi
         | in a while now; but even if they've just become unobtanium
         | there's not yet a community effort to buff the software up for
         | one of the other SBCs?
        
           | giantg2 wrote:
           | Armbian seems decent for software and supports multiple SBCs.
           | I'm bot sure what the issue is, but stuff doesn't _just work_
           | like it does with the Raspberry Pi. I have a Banana Pi M2
           | Zero since I can 't find a Pi Zero 2. It simply won't run the
           | stuff I need it to. The GPIO setup seems to be different or
           | something. I just cannot get a Lepton working with it.
           | Supposedly there is software to work the Lepton with a
           | Teensy, but it seems they want you to buy a kit since I don't
           | see any real instructions on what gpio to use and how to set
           | it up. But I'm probably just dumb.
        
         | hackmiester wrote:
         | I have moved to NanoPi. Raspberry Pi is dead to me after years
         | of indifference toward the hobbyist and small business sectors.
        
       | sillywalk wrote:
       | (Ultrasound as in ultrasound medical, not Gravis Ultrasound.)
        
         | _Microft wrote:
         | That one... you can find there:
         | https://github.com/polpo/picogus/
        
         | bluGill wrote:
         | Not just medical. They are also used for inspecting mechanical
         | parts. A boiler has to be inspected by ultrasound to ensure
         | there are no hidden flaws that could cause it to explode.
         | (along with x-rays and visual inspections. Maybe others, while
         | steam engines are cool, the danger means I decided to not own
         | one and I didn't research all the rules)
        
       | lnsru wrote:
       | I would say, ultrasound is perfect FPGA application. One
       | ultrasound channel can be replicated many times. FPGA size is the
       | limit. Especially now when Raspberry Pis are unobtainium.
        
         | ilyt wrote:
         | Well, not many people know verilog/vhdl
        
         | gateorade wrote:
         | This is basically the case for any digitally controlled
         | effector/sensor. Need a serial bus to get data from some ADCs?
         | An FPGA can do N buses in parallel. Need a PWM to control a
         | motor? An FPGA can do N PWMs in parallel.
         | 
         | The problem of course is that the effector/sensor is usually
         | still a physical object that has a cost to replicate, even
         | though the control circuitry in the FPGA is free to replicate.
         | As is the case with ultrasonic transducers.
        
       | mattanimation wrote:
       | can this find the gophers? I hate the gophers.
        
         | 0xdeadbeefbabe wrote:
         | I don't know why your comment isn't at the top. Good point.
        
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       (page generated 2023-05-24 23:01 UTC)