Ultrasound technology enables the ability to take a two dimensional image using high frequency acoustic energy. Giving physicians the ability to accurately diagnose patients Ultrasound technology has been developed over the last 100 years, being influenced by WW1 and WW2. Due to an increase in submarine warfare, the interest in further developing the ultrasound technology grew. WW2 utilized sonar, enabling ultrasound technology to quickly progress. One of the most commonly used procedures for ultrasounds is for unborn fetuses. By using ultrasound technology, doctors are able to check on the progress and development of unborn babies and also be able to look for birth defects, heart abnormalities and be able to determine the fetus’s gender. Here we’ll learn more about ultrasound technology and how it’s changed over the years.
What Ultrasound Technology Can Tell You?
Diagnostic ultrasound is performed by an ultrasound technician. An ultrasound technician will need good communication skills and be able to work well with people. Because ultrasound technology is constantly progressing, an ultrasound tech will need to stay on top of the continuing changes in technology in this field. The ultrasound tech works with sonologists, cardiologists, vascular surgeons, OB/GYN’s and other doctors in order to reach an accurate diagnosis for a patient.
A diagnostic medical sonographer or ultrasound technician operates ultrasound equipment that uses sound waves to help diagnose a patient’s condition. They need to work directly with patients and doctors. Ultrasound technicians may specialize in other areas, in order to find a position that offers a higher annual salary. Some of the other areas for ultrasound techs are obstetric and gynecologic sonography, abdominal sonography, neurosonography, breast sonography, vascular sonography or cardiac sonography.
Potential ultrasound technicians can enroll in two year sonography programs for an associate’s degree and a four year sonography program for a bachelor’s degree at most colleges; universities and vocational schools. The course outline for these programs includes classes for anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, basic physics, patient care and medical ethics. In some states a person isn’t required to be licensed in order to work as an sonographer, but most employers prefer to hire job candidates who have been certified by a certifying organization such as the American Regsitry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, also referred to as the ARDMS.In order to become certified by the ARMDS a graduating student must take and pass an exam. Students will have two chances to pass the ARMDS exams before being required to take the sonography program over again.
Some of the common uses of ultrasounds are:
- Pregnancy: Measuring size, growth, position and sex of fetus.
- Cardiology: Seeing inside the heart, measuring blood flow and checking heart valve functions.
- Urology: Kidney stones and/or prostate issues
- Identifying and diagnosing potential tumors on ovaries on in the breasts
- Bone Healing: an ultrasound can be used to speed up the healing process of bone breaks or pulled muscles.
The latest Advancement in Sonography Technology
The latest advance in ultrasound technology allow parents see their baby move, open and close eyes, and smile during an 3D ultrasound. A 3D image is created by piecing together many 2D images. 3D images improve a sonographer’s ability to detect issues earlier and even more accurately. Within a couple of decades, it’s been predicted that the 3D ultrasound will have totally supplanted the familiar 2D technology.