Ultrasound Probe as Tool for Tangible Sound Performance Using Physically Sculpted Phantoms

Kevin Blackistone

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

Recent development in point-of-care (POC) ultrasound probes have provided a boon to the medical field through their small size, low power and comparatively low cost. Such probes provide a unique ability to generate tissue density data at a range of depths. This imagery can be manipulated and converted into sound via Fourier transformation of the output imagery, wherein depth (distance from probe) is associated with frequency and tissue density at that depth represents the volume of that spectral character. In medical training, a dyed-opaque gelatin mold known as a phantom is used to simulate organic tissues, via selected materials suspended in the medium. This allows the practitioner to learn the coordination required in their craft in the absence of a patient. While typically designed with simulation of tissue and medical procedure in mind, one can alternatively select materials and placements based on creative image output. This paper demonstrates that one can use intentionally designed phantoms as a physical, compositional source via physical probe manipulation and the above image to sound transformation.

Citation

Kevin Blackistone. 2026. Ultrasound Probe as Tool for Tangible Sound Performance Using Physically Sculpted Phantoms. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20784334 [PDF]

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{nime2026_109,
 abstract = {Recent development in point-of-care (POC) ultrasound probes have provided a boon to the medical field through their small size, low power and comparatively low cost. Such probes provide a unique ability to generate tissue density data at a range of depths. This imagery can be manipulated and converted into sound via Fourier transformation of the output imagery, wherein depth (distance from probe) is associated with frequency and tissue density at that depth represents the volume of that spectral character. In medical training, a dyed-opaque gelatin mold known as a phantom is used to simulate organic tissues, via selected materials suspended in the medium. This allows the practitioner to learn the coordination required in their craft in the absence of a patient. While typically designed with simulation of tissue and medical procedure in mind, one can alternatively select materials and placements based on creative image output. This paper demonstrates that one can use intentionally designed phantoms as a physical, compositional source via physical probe manipulation and the above image to sound transformation.},
 address = {London, United Kingdom},
 articleno = {109},
 author = {Kevin Blackistone},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.20784334},
 editor = {Benedict Gaster and João Tragtenberg and Anna Xambó and Tom Mitchell},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {June},
 note = {},
 numpages = {6},
 pages = {912--917},
 title = {Ultrasound Probe as Tool for Tangible Sound Performance Using Physically Sculpted Phantoms},
 track = {paper},
 url = {http://nime.org/proceedings/2026/nime2026_109.pdf},
 year = {2026}
}