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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Yong Moma | Posted under Pregnancy
The Benefits of Ultrasound Machines
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When an ultrasound is used the machine transmits 1 to 5 megahertz high frequency sound pulses into the body with the probe. When the waves hit a solid form they are reflected back to the transducer which then transmits the image to the screen. It takes millions of pulses to make up an image. There are some basic parts that make up an ultrasound machine. 1. Transducer ProbeThis is the main component of the ultrasound machine. It makes the sound waves and receives the echoes using what is called the piezoelectric effect. The transducer probe has one or more piezoelectric crystals in it and the electric current causes these to quickly change shape causing vibrations. When the sound hits the crystals electrical currents are emitted. The same crystals are used to send and receive the sound waves. The transducer probes are available in many different sizes and shapes. Besides the probe that slides across the body there are also probes that are designed for inserting into the esophagus, rectum, and vagina. 2. CPUor central processing unit is the brain of the machine. It contains the microprocessor and provides the power for the probe. The CPU sends an electrical current to the transducer and it then receives the electrical pulses back, at which time it does all the calculations, processing the data. The data is then stored on the computers hard disk or other storage device. 3. Transducer Pulse ControlsThe pulse controls are what allow the technician to change the duration, amplitude, and frequency of the pulses being emitted so that you are able to get the best image. 4. DisplayDisplays may be color or monochrome depending on the age of the machine. Black and white displays are quite common. There are several different types of monitor displays used depending on the design of the ultrasound lab itself. 5. Keyboardis where you input the data. There is usually a tracker ball or mouse that comes with the keyboard allowing the technician to physically enter data as well as point and click. Although taking the images does not entail using a keyboard or mouse recording the data accurately does. 6. Disk Storageis where the data is stored which is generally a hard drive but can be a floppy disks, compact disks, and even digital video disks. 7. PrinterThere are all kinds of printers on the market that allow you to print the ultrasound image. A printer with a high pixel rating is preferred for a clear print. Wondering how the procedure is actually done? It's really quite easy and it is painless. And it only takes about 20 minutes to complete. Your doctor will order an ultrasound and you will be asked to arrive at an ultrasound lab. About 2 hours before your test You will be asked to drink 4 glassed of water so that your bladder is full. A full bladder puts pressure on the organs and helps to get clearer images especially with the uterus which is also pushed higher. Wear loose clothes. That way if you scan is for your belly you probably won't have to change into a gown. For some scans you will still be required to change. The technician will ask you to lie on the bed in the position that's correct for the type of scan you are going to have. For abdomen scans you will be lying on your back. The lights are turned way down once you are in the correct. This is done so that the image is much clearer on the screen. You will be covered with a gel will be placed on the area that is going to have the ultrasound then a transducer is ran across the area. You will feel the pressure but it won't hurt. You will need to lie still for the test as the technician is moved across in a variety of directions. After the test is finished the gel is wiped off and you are free to go. The procedure is very simple. In the future ultrasound equipment will likely be much faster, have a lot more memory, and a larger storage capacity than the current machine. Portable units are now becoming so sophisticated that they have much of the functionality of the big machines. 4D units will continue to grow in popularity and more labs and hospitals will invest in these units over time. But even with the technological advancements chances are the 2D ultrasound machines will stick around for quite some time yet because they are not only efficient they are much more cost efficient then some of the larger machines. About The Author: Yong has been working for a leading ultrasound manufacturer for last 8 years. At At http://www.ultrasoundlive.com he has provide information about different types of utlrassound equipments. Visit the website to get more information about ultrasound equipment and accessories. |
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