12 week foetus, 3-D ultrasound scan. Three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound scan of a human foetus. The image was produced by a 3-D ultrasound scanner called Voluson E8 utilising software called HDLive. 3-D scanning enables physiological disorders such as harelip and spina bifida to be diagnosed before birth. Ultrasound is a diagnostic technique which sends high-frequency sound waves into the body via a transducer. The returning echoes are recorded and used to build an image of an internal structure. HDLive renders the ultrasound data in real time with realistic lighting and surface detail.