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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Yong Moma | Posted under Pregnancy
Understanding Ultrasound Equipment
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When an ultrasound is done the machine transmits high frequency sound pulses, in the range of 1 to 5 megahertz, into the body with a transducer. The waves then hit a boundary and the waves are reflected back to the transducer which is then transmitted 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 Probe - sends and receives the sound waves. This is the main component of the entire machine making the sound waves and receiving the echoes. It uses 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 transducers come in all kinds of 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. CPU - or central processing unit which provides the electrical source for all the components and it does all of the calculations. This is the brain of the machine containing the microprocessor and providing the power for the transducer probe. The CPU sends electrical currents to the transducer and it receives the electrical pulses back, in turn doing all the calculations, processing the data, and then storing it. 3. Transducer Pulse Controls - it changes the amplitude, duration, and frequency of the pulses being emitted by the transducer. The pulse controls are what allow the technician to change the duration and frequency of the pulses to get the best image. 4. Display - shows the image from the ultrasound data. Displays may be color or monochrome depending on the age of the machine. Black and white displays are quite common. 5. Keyboard - is 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. 6. Disk Storage - is where the data is stored which is generally a hard drive. Disk storages can be floppy disks, hard disks, compact disks, and even digital video disks. 7. Printer - used to print the images. There 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. Doppler Ultrasound works a little different using the Doppler effect. The object reflecting the waves moves and the frequency of the echoes changes. How much it changes depends on how fast the object is moving. This type of ultrasound is used for testing the blood flow of heart arteries and major arteries. 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. You will be asked to drink 4 to 6 glasses of water 2 hours before your appointment 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. If you scan is for your belly wear loose clothing and then 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. For abdomen scans you will be lying on your back. For other scans you will be told what position you need to be in. Once you are in the correct position the technician will turn the lights down or off so that the image is much clearer on the screen. A gel will be placed on the area that is going to have the ultrasound then a probe 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. Probes will probably become smaller; in fact the entire piece of machinery will likely shrink in size. 3D machines are already on the market and 4D technology has also arrived which shows an actual live moving images. 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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