Ultrasound History

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.

Ultrasonic are waves that have a high frequency that cannot be detected by a human being. The waves were first unearthed by an Italian known as Lazarro Spallanzani in 1794. The information was used by a physicist Jean-Daniel Colladon to measure sound waves in Lake Geneva by using a bell in 1826 (Woo, 2015). This was supplemented by physicists who studied the transmission and propagation of these vibrations. They learned a lot about the properties of these waves, consequently in 1880, the Curie brothers discovered that electric potential is produced when pressure is exerted on certain crystals (Russell & Crawford, 2013). The Curie brothers employed this discovery in creating echo sound devices.

The navy adopted the technology for use by submarines to detect objects in the water.

The echo devices were improved to detect large objects like icebergs after the Titanic incident. The success of these devices led to the registration of the patent in Britain, but the first working device was in the USA by Reginald Fessenden in1914 (Woo, 2015). The sonar device was able to detect icebergs approximately two miles away, but the low frequency could not pinpoint the exact location. Following, the innovation of the Diode and Triode that intensified the waves, the sonar devices were enhanced by physicists.
The development of the sonar systems correlated with the creation of radar systems. The radar technology was using the same principles as the sonar devices but in a different medium; the radar waves travel through the air. Later inventions of the computer and transistors made it easier for advancement in both sonar and radar because getting and handling data was easier.
At the same time, the same principles were applied to check on the condition of metals to identify any flaws (Woo, 2015). First suggested by Sergei Sokolov when he realized that there was a change in the transmission of the ultrasonic waves in instances where the metal density varied. Sergei‘s device had poor results, and he suggested the use of reflection in place of transmission (Woo, 2015). His suggestion was taken up in the 1940s by pioneers who improved the devices.
The ultrasonic devices described were predecessors to the invention of the ultrasound devices used in medicine.

The knowledge from these earlier devices was integrated to develop ultrasonic devices in the medical field. Ultrasonic devices were first used on animal tissues in the 1920s. The technology was applied as therapy because of its heating and other effects on tissues. Ultrasound consequently moved into the operating theater where the waves were used in brain surgeries (Eklöf, Lindström, & Persson, 2011). It gained full use in the treatment of various diseases in the 1940s despite the insufficient scientific evidence. Tissue damage and injury were reported as effects of this treatment strategy restricting further development of ultrasound in

medicine.
During the same time, there were ongoing experiments on ultrasonic diagnosis. Karl Theo is the first physician to begin the experiments before other physicists. The technology was used to detect tumors and abscesses by using similar principles as those in the metal detectors. Physicists and engineers across Europe, Asia and USA, furthered the development of ultrasonic devices as a diagnostic tool (Woo, 2015). The progress in ultrasound technology was not smooth; there were several failures realized curtailing development. However, other scientists persisted with the earlier knowledge, working with colleagues and institutions. In the 1950s, a lot had been learned about the use of ultrasonic devices in detecting various anomalies without damaging the tissues.
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology started in Glasgow, Scotland in 1950s. It was pioneered by Ian Donald who got the idea during John Wild’s lecture in England. John Wild was talking about the use of ultrasonic technology in neurological diagnosis and Ian saw the potential of this technology. Ian Donald was also versed with the SONAR and RADAR technology during his time with the RAF. Initially, using ultrasonic waves he worked on respiratory problems of newborns, making tools to resolve breathing problems for the infants. Later on, with the help of his friends, John Brown and John MacVicar, he concentrated his research to detecting tumors, fibroids and other anomalies in women (Woo, 2015). At first, people were skeptical about his method until an incident where the ultrasound identified a cyst saving a woman’s life. The technology was adapted in most European countries. Ian Donald and his colleagues would go around the ward measuring fetal head. The technique was improved and has been used to study fetal growth during pregnancy.
Technology has made a tremendous step with current ultrasound devices being pocket size and mobile. They come in handy in outside environments in assessing patients especially for military. The role played by ultrasound in medicine cannot be ignored. This technology may be a favorite for contemporary medicine because of its efficiency, increasing the potential for future advancements and innovations.