Ultrasound Essay

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Throughout time, the modern-day medical applications have undergone many accomplishments. Nowadays there are many opportunities to receive information about human bodies, with that being said, medical imaging has created a more efficient practice. Over time, a variety of different medical imaging have been developed, however each have their own disadvantages and advantages. The ultrasound is a medical imaging application. Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves. From there, the ultrasound machine creates images from the sound waves. The sound waves allow people to view the structure and organs located in the body (Ultrasound: Medline). Many professionals use the ultrasounds to view many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood …show more content…

However majority of the time, ultrasounds are used during pregnancy. Doctors use ultrasounds to view the progress and health of the fetus. The return time of the waves allow people to understand and acknowledge the depth of the reflecting surface. Throughout the mid-century, the ultrasound was used for non-destructive testing of materials. Also, the ultrasound was used as diagnostic tools in 1942, it was used to locate brain tumors (Lecture). In 1950, the ultrasound was used for presenting 2D gray-scale images and in 1965, the ultrasound was used for real-time imaging (Lecture). A professional, technician/doctor moves a device, known as a transducer over a certain part of the patient’s body. The transducer then sends out sound waves, which eventually bounce off the tissues inside the body (Ultrasound: Medline). The transducer captures the waves …show more content…

Molecular imaging is a specific type of medical imaging which allows people to view detailed images of the activities occurring throughout the body at the molecular and cellular level (About Nuclear). This application enables physicians to view how the body is functioning and to measure the chemical and biological processes. Molecular imaging techniques use multiple types of light microscopes and a variety of “optical probes,” which are molecules that have been specifically labeled to emit light of various different wavelengths, that “contrast” the target cells of interest from other cells (Publications). This specific application is very easy to use. Molecular imaging is great for external areas of the body, however not for internal areas. Molecular imaging was made possible by the advances in molecular and cell biology techniques. Also, molecular imaging was first presented in the early 70’s, in nuclear medicine. However it was not until the mid 90’s that efforts were made to advance the technologies and to broaden the biological and molecular field (Publications). Overall, molecular imaging procedures are safe and painless! Molecular imaging is used to manage and diagnose the proper treatment for cancer, heart disease, brain disorders (such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease), gastrointestinal disorders, lung disorders, bone disorders, kidney and thyroid disorders and much more (About

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