Ultrasounds are the standard procedure for visualizing a fetus to establish certain conditions and to identify abnormalities. Traditionally, two-dimensional (2D) ultrasounds have been used, but in recent years three-dimensional (3D) and real time three-dimensional (4D) have been introduced. With these new options it is important to know the risks and benefits of 2D ultrasounds versus 3D/4D ultrasounds.
While the equipment used for 3D/4D is different from that of 2D, the ill effects of the ultrasound remain the same. Because ultrasound is a form of energy with effects in the tissue it traverses, its use should be restricted to medical indications by trained professionals for as short a period of time and at as low an intensity as compatible with accurate diagnosis.₁ Obstetric ultrasound may produce biologic changes though thermal mechanisms. This refers to a rise in temperature in the targeted tissue. The significant rise in temperature could be potentially harmful to the fetus.₂ In human subjects, several studies have shown an association between in utero insonation of fetuses and delayed speech,
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3D uses specially designed probes and software to produce three-dimensional images of the fetus. Three-dimensional ultrasounds produce impressive images that can occasionally lead to the diagnosis of complicated diseases. For instance, examination of the fetal face by 3D/4D ultrasounds is a useful diagnostic tool for Pallister-Killian Syndrome (PKS).₆ Only by using 3D/4D ultrasound can cardiac volumes be measured reliably and easily.₅ There are fetal behaviors that can be detected by the 4D assessment procedure in instances where the 2D technique cannot provide the same information. In particular, the 4D technique is superior in the evaluation of facial movements and expression.₇ The 3D/4D images were also better to view details of attachment of fetus with
Diagnostic medical sonography is a profession where sonographers direct high-frequency sound waves into a patient’s body through the use of specific equipment to diagnose or monitor a patient’s medical condition. As described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this examination is referred to as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram. The high-frequency sound waves emitted from the handheld device, called a transducer, bounce back creating an echo and therefore produce an image that can be viewed on the sonographers computer screen. This image provides the sonographer and physician with an internal image of the patient’s body that will be used in the diagnosis. The most familiar use of ultrasound is used in monitoring pregnancies and is provided by obstetric and gynecologic sonographers, who also provide imaging of the female reproductive system. Other types of sonography include; abdominal sonography, breast sonography, musculoskeletal sonography, neurosonography and cardiovascular sonography. Due to the vast nature of uses in sonography, most professionals study one field that they choose to specialize in. Diagnostic medical sonography is a rapidly growing field because of the increase in medical advances. The area of Cleveland, Ohio has continued to rise in the medical field with great strides, providing better career prospects with the availability of numerous employment positions.
According to Diaz (2008), the results from the study showed that the images from the new 3D technology were far clearer and more defined when compared to the US-A traditional device. In muscle contusions and lesions of the tendons, the definitions of hemorrhaged areas increased dramatically. The images from the chronic ligament injuries showed where the scar tissue had formed and provided a better visualization of the damaged tissue. Finally, the new US-B system allowed the ultrasound specialist to see the contents of the bursa sac and thickness of the walls more clearly.
As an ultrasound technician/sonographer I will have the ability to see dangerous defects within the human anatomy and begin a lifelong profession with many benefits. The Ultrasound was first invented in the early 1900’s and was surprisingly not used to produce photos of a fetus. In 1917 Paul Langen a marine life scientist used a form of ultrasound equipment in his attempt to detect submarines. After many failed attempts at using high frequency sound waves Dr. Ian Donald and his team in Glasgow, Scotland invented the first ultrasound machine in 1957. Dr. Donald even tested his machine on patients within a year of completing the invention, by the late 1950’s ultrasounds became routine in Glasgow hospitals.
During pregnancy an echocardiogram of the fetus can be done to produce images of the heart by sending ultrasonic sound waves to the vital organ. These sound waves create an image for the physician to analyze the babies heart function, structure sizes, and blood flow. A positive diagnosis before birth has shown to improve chances of survival, and will allow for appropriate care to be readily available at birth. If a baby is born without being diagnosed with the heart defect, some symptoms previous noted such as low oxygen levels can be suggestive of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The baby may not display any symptoms or signs for hours after birth because of the openings allowing for blood to be pumped to the rest of the body. However, listening to the babies heart can revel a murmur indicating an irregular flow of blood in the heart. If a murmur is heard, or signs of the defect are observed, diagnostic tests will be ordered and performed. An echocardiogram is still the go-to test once the baby is born to evaluate the heart. The echocardiogram will diagnose the newborn, by revealing the underdeveloped left ventricle, mitral and aortic valve, and the ascending aorta commonly seen in
Ultrasound Technicians are very valuable in the world of health care. Also known as Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, an Ultrasound Technician uses special machines and equipment that operates on sound waves to determine or diagnose medical problems for patients. There are specializations within this field in which some individuals explore. For instance, areas of specialization includes but not limited to; pregnancy, heart health, gynecology, and abdominal sonography. Although each specializing branch has its own distinctive function, they all involve probing the body to facilitate doctors with diagnoses.
Obstetric Ultrasound -- a Comprehensive Guide to Ultrasound Scans in Pregnancy. Mar. 2006. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .
Percussion is carried out when the patient is sitting in a vertical or horizontal position. Although this technique is of limited value in cardiac assessment, it can be used to determine the borders of cardiac dullness.
Many wonder how do ultrasounds truly work. Ultrasounds are actually more complex than what they seem to be. First, the ultrasound machine transmits high-frequency sound pulses into your body using a probe, and then sound waves travel into your body and hit a boundary between tissues (Freudenrich, 2011). An example of this would be between fluid and soft tissue and soft tissue and bone. After that, some of the sound waves get reflected back to the probe, while some travel on further until they reach another boundary and get reflected, the reflected waves are then picked up by the probe and relayed to the machine. The machine calculates the distance from the probe to the tissue or organ using the speed of sound in tissue and the time of the each echo's return. Finally, the machine displays the distances and intensities of the echoes on the screen, forming a two dimensional image like the one shown below (Freudenrich, 2011).
Ultrasound is one of the most vital inventions in women health care. The advancement of wave technology throughout history formed the basis for the ultrasound. Ultrasound history is embedded in innovations on wave technology (Woo, 2015). Earlier designs of ultrasonic devices were not in the field of medicine until in the 1950s (Woo, 2015). Even then, the devices were employed for therapy before they were improved and used for diagnosis.
There is also a high-resolution ultrasound scanning that can detect chromosomal and physical abnormalities in the first trimester as opposed to the second trimester. A technology such as this can create many ethical problems. Mcfadyen describes the biggest problem as being informed consent. “They may believe that it will provide information only about gestational age and be unaware of the range of abnormalities that can be detected. Recent research suggests that many women are not told beforehand of the first scan’s potential to detect fetal anomalies.”
In summary, the medical imaging technology of ultrasound is founded on the world of physics. As we understand more and more about waves and how they functions, ultrasound imaging capabilities expand, allowing for the increasingly accurate diagnostic of medical problems.
The process of human development is very complex. It is a continual process, providing gradual development for the fetus. Some of the most important factors to fetal development such as blood flow, heart beats, muscle development, and brain activity can all be determined within the first seven weeks of pregnancy (Baby Developme...
3D Printing: The weapon to save or kill? People nowadays might get the impression that the 3D printing technology is a relatively new concept in our daily lives. However, 3D printing technology has been invented and utilized in many fields such as creating human organs in healthcare, building architectural models in engineering, and even forming components that can be used in aeronautic fields. Since Charles W. Hull invented the 3D printing technology in the 1980s, scientists, engineers, and even normal people were and still are trying to discover more possibilities of the usages and changes in this technology. Same as every invention of the new technology, with its undeniable beneficial effects, 3D printing also faces lots of limitations on the printing material, financial costs, market standardization, and more crucially the possible abuse of it.
Rumack, C. M., Wilson, S. R., & Charboneau, J. W. (2005). Diagnostic ultrasound (3rd ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby.
[IMAGE] * Ultrasound Ultrasound was another application of physics which I saw in QueensElizabethHospital . The use of ultrasound which I saw was the ultrasound scan. This is mainly used for pregnant women to see if the foetus has any abnormalities, or check on progress and growth. The rays in ultrasound have a very high frequency which is above the human audible range. Here you can see an image made using ultrasound to see a foetus's progress, growth and if the foetus has any abnormalities.[IMAGE] Gamma camera.