Ultrasound is a form of medical technology that is often used for diagnostic purposes. Early forms of ultrasound involved large machines that were in a fixed location. As ultrasound technology has advanced, smaller machines were designed, allowing for the development of portable machines. Portable ultrasound machines work using the same technology and procedures but have many advantages over machines in fixed locations.
Mechanism
Ultrasound machines use high energy sound waves, the Patient Education Institute explains. A device called a transducer generates these sound waves which travel through the body and reflect off tissue and other substances within the body. The transducer then detects these reflected sound waves and sends this information to a computer. By analyzing the information gathered by the transducer, the computer is able to form an image of the inside of the patient.
Components
There are four main components to a portable ultrasound machine, RadiologyInfo reports. The transducer is a small device shaped like a microphone which is connected by cord to a scanner. The scanner provides the energy for emitting the ultrasonic waves. The transducer and scanner are connected to the third part, the computer, which is responsible for interpreting the collected data. The computer sends the processed images to the video screen, which is the fourth component. A portable ultrasound machine may utilize a computer with a built-in screen, in which case the video screen will not be a separate component.
Procedure
A portable ultrasound requires the transducer to have direct contact to the skin, so patients will need to remove any clothing that covers the site where the examination will be performed. Then a cool gel will be applied to the examination area, which allows for better contact between the transducer and the skin. The radiologist or physician then presses the transducer firmly against the skin and may change both the location and the angle of the transducer to visualize as much of the patient's body as is needed. Most examinations, according to RadiologyInfo, take between 30 minutes to an hour.
Uses
Portable ultrasound machines can be used by a variety of different medical specialties. Ultrasounds are especially useful for determining the health of a fetus as the sound waves do not cause any tissue damage. Portable ultrasounds can also be used to obtain detailed images of the heart and blood vessels. They are also useful for visualizing organs within the abdomen, the thyroid gland, the scrotum and the prostate.
Advantages
One of the main advantages of portable ultrasound is that these machines can be taken to patients rather than forcing the physician to move the patient to where the machine is located. This has allowed ultrasound to be used more easily in fields such as emergency medicine and surgery. Portable ultrasound machines can also be used outside of hospitals and are increasingly being used by emergency medical personnel, a 2008 article in the International Journal of Emergency Medicine titled "Use of ultrasound by emergency medical services: a review."
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