Ultrasound equipment is used to image internal structures and organs by bouncing sound waves off of these tissues and using a computer to interpret and present the results. A trained ultrasound technician, or sonographer, can read these images and use them to diagnose disease or measure the functioning of the observed organ.
Equipment
Ultrasound equipment basically consists of a transducer, scanner, computer and monitor. The transducer, also called an ultrasound probe, emits pulses of sound waves between 3.5 to 7.0 megahertz, explains Obstetric Ultrasound. Transducers come in different shapes and sizes, including a flat-surface type called a linear array transducer and a convex array transducer, which fits better on the abdomen of pregnant women and allows a wider field of view. In a transvaginal transducer, used in early pregnancy, the probe is on the end of a wand that is slid into the woman's vagina for a closer look at the tiny embryo. The scanner is often part of the transducer and operates to collect the reflection of the sound waves that return after bouncing off the internal systems. After collection, the computer analyzes the data and presents it in visual form on the monitor.
Visualization
As the transducer's crystals emits ultrasonic pulses in a sweeping pattern, sound waves traveling at a speed of approximately 1,540 meters per second go into the patient's body at a rate of about 30 sweeps per second, according to Obstetric Ultrasound. These sound waves are reflected back differently as they bounce off of areas with different densities. The sonographer can control the speed of the soundwaves to change the depth and resolution of the scan. The ultrasound equipment may also be connected to a printer, video recorder or data storage device that can make a copy of the scan for later reference.
Process
To perform an ultrasound, the doctor or technician first puts a layer of conducting gel on the skin of the area to be examined. The sonographer slides the transducer across the skin to get views from all sides. The entire process generally takes from 30 minutes to 1 hour and is painless.
Uses
While the most common use of ultrasound equipment is visualizing the fetus in a pregnancy, there are other medical applications as well. According to MayoClinic.com, ultrasound can be used to examine the heart, thyroid gland and blood flow in veins and arteries. In cancer patients, ultrasound may be used to diagnose the disease or to guide biopsies or other procedures. Gallbladder disease, infections and some types of abnormalities in the prostate, muscles and tendons can be diagnosed using ultrasound.
Considerations
According to RadiologyInfo.org, diagnostic ultrasound is considered safe, with no known adverse effects. For some organs, imaging with ultrasound is less effective than other imaging techniques. The bowels, for example, are better seen using CT scans, MRI or barium exams. The insides of bony structures are also difficult to visualize using sound waves, so ultrasound is typically not used for bone disorders.
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