Medical Ultrasonography - Pulsating Map Of The Human Body

al ultrasonography is a diagnostic imaging techniquebecame possible to monitor pregnancy from start
that uses ultrasound equipment. Ultrasonography isto finish and diagnose complications such as
utilized to visualize the size, structure, andmultiple pregnancy and fetal abnormalities.
pathological lesions of internal organs. The followingDiagnostic ultrasonography has since been utilized
is a brief overview of the history and modernin many other areas of medicine.
applications of medical & diagnosticToday, medical ultrasonography is used in:
ultrasonography.• Cardiology
Ultrasonography was invented in 1953 at Lund• Endocrinology
University by cardiologist Inge Edler and Carl• Gastroenterology
Hellmuth Hertz, a graduate student studying• Gynecology
nuclear physics. Edler had asked Hertz if it was• Obstetrics
possible to use radar to look into the body. Hertz• Ophthalmology
said it was impossible, though there might be a• Urology
possibility via ultrasonography. Hertz was familiar• Anesthesia
with using ultrasonic reflectoscopes forModern diagnostic ultrasonography uses a probe
nondestructive materials testing; together theycontaining one or more acoustic transducers to
developed the idea of using this method insend pulses of sound into a material. Whenever a
medicine and ultrasonography was introduced tosound wave encounters a material with different
the world.acoustical impedance, the probe detects an echo.
Using a device borrowed from a ship constructionThe time it takes for the echo to travel back to
company in Malmö, Sweden, their firstthe probe is measured and used to calculate the
successful measurement of heart activity wasdepth of the tissue.
made on October 29, 1953. On December 16 ofThe sound frequencies used for medical
that year, their method was used to generate anultrasonography are generally in the range of 1 to
echo-encephalogram, an ultrasonic probe of the10 MHz. Higher frequencies have a lower
brain. Edler and Hertz published their findings inwavelength, producing images with a greater
1954.resolution. However, the attenuation of the sound
Meanwhile, Professor Ian Donald and colleagues atwave is increased at higher frequencies, so in
the Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital in Scotlandorder to better penetrate deeper tissues, a lower
conducted the first diagnostic procedures usingfrequency (3-5MHz) is be used.
ultrasonography. Donald was an obstetrician whoThe value of ultrasonography in healthcare
had used industrial ultrasound equipment tofacilities weighs heavily on its multi-functionality. It
conduct experiments on morbid anatomicalproduces images of muscle and soft tissue, useful
specimens to assess their ultrasonicfor delineating boundaries between solid and
characteristics. Together with physicist Tomfluid-filled spaces. It provides live images, enabling
Brown and Dr. John MacVicar, Donald refined theoperators to select the most useful sections for
equipment to enable differentiation of pathology indiagnosing and documenting changes for rapid
live patients. These findings were published June 7,diagnoses. It shows the structure and function of
1958 as "Investigation of Abdominal Masses byinternal organs. It’s a useful way to
Pulsed Ultrasound"; one of the most importantexamine the musculoskeletal system to detect
ever papers published in the field of diagnosticproblems with muscles, ligaments, tendons, and
medical imaging.joints. It also assists in identifying blockages,
Professor Donald and Dr. James Willocks thenstenosis, and other vascular abnormalities. With
applied these techniques to obstetrics to assesssuch wide-ranging benefits, the modern medical
the size and growth of the fetus. As technicalfacility is at a severe loss without the most
quality of the scans was further developed, ittechnologically advanced equipment.