# Virtual Reality Ultrasounds The Aava Medical Centre and GE Helped to Create a 4D Ultrasound By Joey Haar | Published 2017-01-12 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aava-medical-centre References: [boingboing.net](http://boingboing.net/2017/01/12/woman-turned-her-prenatal-ultr.html) & [adventure-club.fi](http://adventure-club.fi/how-i-met-my-daughter-before-she-was-born/) Through imaging from [General Electric](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drone-shows) and the Aava Medical Centre and her own expertise in the tech space, a woman from Helsinki recently created a virtual reality ultrasound of her own unborn daughter. The process, which is being referred to by the Aava Medical Centre as a 4D ultrasound, is the first of such ever to be conducted, and it portends an entirely new way for expecting parents to understand their pregnancy. Until relatively recently, ultrasound images were more of a symbolic item than anything practical, since it took a medical professional to make sense of the monochromatic, 2D image. [3D ultrasounds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pristina-recon-dl) have grown in popularity recently, though, and those images bear a clear resemblance to the eventual child. That said, a [VR ultrasound](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultrasound-system) gives exceptional new depth to the process, letting parents see their unborn child from any angle. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 61% | Activity: 63% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Science](https://www.trendhunter.com/science) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Virtual Reality Ultrasound:** Virtual reality ultrasounds provide a new way for expecting parents to understand their pregnancy by allowing them to see their unborn child from any angle. - **4D Ultrasound:** The development of 4D ultrasounds, incorporating virtual reality technology, offers a more immersive and lifelike experience for expecting parents. - **Advancements in Ultrasound Imaging:** Continued advancements in ultrasound imaging, such as the integration of virtual reality, enhance the visual understanding of pregnancies and facilitate better patient experiences. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Healthcare:** The healthcare industry can leverage virtual reality ultrasounds to improve prenatal care and enhance patient education during pregnancy. - **Technology:** The technology industry has the opportunity to develop innovative virtual reality tools and platforms specifically designed for the visualization of ultrasounds. - **Parenting and Baby Products:** The parenting and baby products industry can explore new product offerings related to virtual reality ultrasounds, such as personalized VR experiences for expecting parents. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Virtual Medical Training Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elara.md) - [Accessible Ultrasound Imaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultrasound-imaging1.md) - [VR-Based Pain Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smileyscope.md) - [AI-Generated Baby Images](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-baby-generator1.md) - [AI-Fueled 3D Imaging Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-imaging-tool.md) - [Scan-to-VR Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teleport-by-varjo.md) - [Hyper-Realistic Holograms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solidlight.md) - [Prenatal Care Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/morrama.md) - [Virtual Reality Insurance Consults](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ergo.md)