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Why Sound Wave is Important in Healthcare ?
Ultrasound refers to sound, very high-pitched sound that the human ear cannot hear. The human hearing range for sound is from 20Hz to 20000Hz. Humans cannot perceive sounds higher than this because our auditory range extends only up to 20000Hz.
However, in the diagnosis process, sound waves with frequencies between 2 and 18 MHz are utilized. Here, one megahertz equals one million hertz, indicating how high a sound wave is produced. Employing higher-frequency sound waves results in better image quality, but they cannot penetrate deeply into the body as they are absorbed by the skin and muscles. Hence, for viewing internal images, lower wavelengths are used, albeit at the expense of reduced image quality.
Sinogram, diagnostic sonography, and ultra-sonogram are a few names for this method, which involves diagnosing internal organs using very high-frequency sound waves. Since sound waves are employed, there is no risk of additional harm to the body. This is why ultra-sonograms are primarily used to obtain information about the position and health of the fetus in the womb. Although conventional wisdom dictates that ultra-sonograms are conducted on the abdomen, they can be performed on almost any part of the body, including the liver, heart, and kidneys. Ultra sonograms are also utilized for certain biopsies.
Here’s how an ultrasound works:
Special sound waves sent through the device pass through the soft muscles and fluids of the body and are reflected back by a hard part. For instance, during an ultrasound of the heart, the sound waves travel through the blood and return from the lining of the heart, creating an image on the monitor. By analyzing the image created by these reflected sound waves, the sonographer can visualize any abnormalities. Ultrasound generating transducers, equipped with thousands of crystals, are used in this process. These crystals vibrate according to the voltage and commands received from the ultrasound machine, generating sound waves.
The front part of the transducer or probe is divided into two parts: the transmitter and receiver ends. The sound waves from the transmitter part penetrate the human body and pass through the tissues. Subsequently, these sound waves are absorbed by the solid and soft parts inside the human body and return as echoes. The echoes are received at the receiver end and then transmitted to the signal processing part in the form of a signal. Based on this signal, an image is created and sent to the monitor. Different transducers are used to scan different organs.
Where is Ultrasonography used?
Primarily, ultrasonography is required for diagnosis, but some applications are also used in treatment, such as therapeutic procedures and intervention guides. Typically, the person who performs the sonography is also a doctor specialized in sonography. However, to ensure accurate diagnosis, sonography must be performed by a licensed sonographer. The sonographer primarily analyzes the data obtained through images and sonographs and prepares reports, which aid specialist doctors in diagnosing and treating diseases properly.
The part of the ultrasound device held by the sonographer during the procedure is known as the transducer, and a jelly-like substance is applied to the skin. An ultra-sonogram is often utilized as a guide when administering anesthesia or sedation close to nerves. Ultrasonography is also employed to diagnose heart disease, with echocardiograms being the most common type. Color Doppler imaging can provide a clear understanding of blood flow and heart tissue condition. It can indicate the functionality of heart valves, the presence of abnormalities, valve regurgitation, and the heart’s ability to pump blood properly. Additionally, arterial sonography diagnoses blocked or narrowed blood vessels, while venous sonography evaluates deep vein thrombosis.
The use of ultrasonography in emergency medicine has increased to enable rapid diagnosis of injuries, pericardial tamponade, hemoperitoneum, and immediate treatment. Conditions causing sudden pain, such as gallbladder or appendix issues, require emergency ultrasonography for diagnosis. Ultrasonography of the abdomen, or digestive system, is performed for various reasons, including diagnosing kidney, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreatic, or abdominal tumor conditions. A soft tissue scan of a newborn’s head is conducted to detect structural anomalies, hydrocephalus, or periventricular leukomalacia in the brain. As the soft part gradually ossifies into hard bone, the brain cannot be examined by ultrasonography.
Ultrasonography is widely used in obstetrics, serving as a pregnancy confirmation test even in the early stages. The health of the unborn child is monitored by ultrasound at various stages until birth, and Doppler sonography can detect the baby’s heartbeat. Many diagnoses in urology, such as determining the amount of urine retained in the bladder after urination, rely on ultrasonography. It is also essential in diagnosing diseases of the reproductive system, especially those affecting the uterus and testicles, and distinguishing between testicular cancer, hydrocele, or varicocele.
Bone ultrasonography is not very effective, but it can diagnose issues related to bone sheaths, ligaments, nerves, muscles, and tendons. Doppler ultrasonography, which utilizes changes in sound waves or the Doppler Effect to confirm the position of red blood cells, is typically used to determine blood flow speed, vessel narrowing, vessel wall thickening, and heart rate.
