MELODI is a new high-technology innovation that precisely locates metallic foreign bodies. This is a new and unique device that is aimed at providing a fast, accurate, and inexpensive alternative to X-rays for location of metals within patients.  The device determines the exact 3-D location of a metal foreign body and displays immediate real-time results. This will enable the user to very rapidly assess problems caused by metals as well as to be a guide should they need surgical removal. The primary complaints MELODI will address include needles in feet and knees, swallowed coins, industrial accidents, and gun shot wounds. MELODI is expected to be particularly advantageous for 'difficult' areas such as the orbit, foot, and cranium. The operator requires little training and no specialist knowledge to obtain accurate results and it can be used safely by unskilled operators. MELODI will be developed into a small, inexpensive, lightweight, easy to use battery-powered instrument requiring no maintenance.  The sensor can be used in a mode that guides the operator to move the sensing head until a cross hair is directly over the top of the metal. The depth of the metal below the base of the sensor is read from the display. Within this work, not only has the basic stand-alone metal locating sensor been demonstrated, but also a version that is integrated with an ultrasound-imaging machine. The purpose of this is to demonstrate that ultrasound-imaging machines can be given the capability to clearly discriminate metals - an ability they currently lack. In this way metals can be located with respect to the internal structures of the body, which can be achieved by superimposing an icon representing the position of the metal onto the conventional ultrasound image. 
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