Ultrasound equipment basics

An ultrasound machine is a useful piece of equipment for almost every medical professional. Besides monitoring the safety and development of a fetus in the womb, it can pinpoint complications in a foot or complex problems in the brain. Ultrasound equipment is more affordable than expensive medical procedures like an MRI or CAT scan, and is usually the quickest and most reliable way of locating serious medical problems in a patient early on.

Standard ultrasound equipment typically renders two-dimensional black and white images called sonograms. Three-dimensional ultrasounds provide clearer images of fetus development and help detect potential tumor growth. Color ultrasounds allow you to see blood flowing through the vessels and other internal details.

Four-dimensional ultrasound allows medical professionals to move the images around on the monitor in real time and provide more vibrant images of the fetus or the body part.

How ultrasound equipment works

A professional ultrasonographer uses a probe called a transducer to locate the fetus or medical problem by pressing it against the body or inserting it into an orifice. Transducers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to provide different fields of view, sound penetration depths, and image resolutions.

The transducer creates high-frequency sound waves, which are sent through tissues and vascular areas. The waves reflect back to the transducer and the machine creates an image based on the speed at which the echoes return. The operator can adjust various characteristics of the image, take measurements, and record the images for later examination.

What is the future of ultrasound technology?

Manufacturers constantly introduce new ultrasound equipment that offers improved image quality and faster diagnosis. They also look for ways to improve portable equipment for paramedics and the military.

While current-day ultrasound can only send waves through the body and back to the machine, future technology may allow the waves to travel in multiple directions so that the equipment can interpret the resulting images differently. As virtual reality becomes more prevalent, manufacturers may find ways to incorporate that into ultrasound technology.

Certain advancements are further away but could significantly change the way doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions. High-intensity focused ultrasound (or “HIFUS”) allows medical professionals to diagnose and immediately treat cancerous tumors, but it hasn’t yet gained FDA approval for use in the U.S.