Ultrasound technology uses sound waves to image internal structures of the body. Traditional ultrasound creates a two-dimensional image, but newer devices give the capability of visualizing organs in 3-D or 4-D. Doppler ultrasound also records movement, specifically the movement blood flow through the blood vessels.
History
The development of ultrasound was based on the concept of sonar, which was developed in 1826 as a way to measure sound waves bounced off of underwater objects, explains Obstetric Ultrasound. As early as the 1920s, ultrasound was being used to direct sound waves at diseased tissue for treatment. It wasn't until the development of radar, digital computing, echo-reflecting technology and transistors in the 1940s, however, that ultrasound for diagnostics was created.
Benefits
Ultrasound technology tends to be cheaper than many other types of imaging technology such as CT scans or MRI, according to RadiologyInfo.org. Because it is noninvasive and gives a clear picture of internal organs and structures, ultrasound is the imaging technology of choice for visualizing fetuses in the womb during all three trimesters of pregnancy.
Safety
Ultrasound is considered a safe technology and does not use radiation to image the body. According to Obstetric Ultrasound, large-scale studies have failed to find any link between the use of ultrasound during pregnancy and harmful effects on the fetus, although some small studies have noted potential problems, particularly with pulsed Doppler in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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