Medical ultrasonography
Medical ultrasonographyan ultrasound-based imaging diagnostic technique usedvisualize internal organs, their size, structuretheir pathological lesions. Itparticularly usefuldelineatinginterfaces between solidcystic spaces.Ultrasonographywidely utilizedmedicine, primarilygastroenterology, cardiology, gynecologyobstetrics, urologyendocrinology. Itpossibleperform diagnostic or therapeutic proceduresguidanceultrasonography display (for instance biopsy).
Ultrasoundgoodscanning musclesoft tissue. It cannot penetrate boneperforms poorly when thereair betweenscanner andorganinterest. For example, overlying gas ingastrointestinal tract often makes ultrasound scanning ofpancreas difficult.
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2 Echocardiography 3 Obstetric ultrasonography 4 Treatment 5 External Links |
History
Medical ultrasonography was invented1953 at Lund University by cardiologist Inge EdlerCarl Hellmuth Hertz,sonGustav Ludwig Hertz, who wasgraduate student atdepartmentnuclear physics.
Edler had asked Hertz ifwas possibleuse radarlook intobody, but Hertz said this was impossible. However, he said,might be possibleuse ultrasonography. Hertz was familiarusing ultrasonic reflectoscopesnondestructive materials testing,togetherdevelopedideausing this methodmedicine.
The first successful measurementheart activity was made on October 29, 1953 usingdevice lent fromship construction company KockumsMalmö. On December 16same year,method was usedecho-encefalogram (ultrasonographic measurement intobrain). The first obstetric measurements were madeScotland.
Echocardiography
Cardiologists can use ultrasound techniquesdetect problems withheart. Thisknown as an echocardiogram. Thisusually done throughchest (transthoracic) but sometimes itnecessaryperformechocardiogram transesophageally (detecting deviceinserted orallypassed intoesophagus). Transesophageal echocardiograms deliver better images becauseultrasound probecloser toheart.
Movement ofheart valves,any vegetations growing on them can be established. The direction offlowblood can be displayed using doppler techniques, allowing studiesflow throughheart valves.
This wasfirst way ultrasound echoes was usedmedical purposes.
Obstetric ultrasonography
In obstetrics, ultrasoundusedvisualisebabythe womb. Inhandsan experienced sonographer,fetus as small as 5mmlength can be visualised inuterus. Routine pregnancy ultrasound scansperformed, usually 18-20 weeks intopregnancy,detect developmental defectsutero. The sex ofbaby can sometimes also be identified. Ultrasoundbelievedbe harmless, unlike radiographs that use x-ray radiation.
Treatment
Ultrasound can also be usedtreat patients. With gallstones, or kidneybladder stones,stone can not only be visualised, but high frequency sounds can be usedfragmentdemolish it, socan then pass out ofbody naturally. This effectachieved by focusing several ulstrasound transmitters onstone, findingresonance frequency ofstonedestroyingwithintense sound at this frequency. Thisroughlysame effect thatobserved whenhigh-pitched sound destroyscrystal glass by resonance.
See also:
- Doppler ultrasonography
External Links
