subject: How do ultrasound scans work? [print this page] How do ultrasound scans work? How do ultrasound scans work?
During your pregnancy, it's easy to take many aspects of your ante natal care for granted. It is a common occurrence nowadays for proud parents to be to show off images of their unborn child taken during an ultrasound scan, but there will be some who do not pause for thought at how such remarkable images are achieved.
Diagnostic sonography, to give it its full title, uses ultra high frequency sound waves to visualize internal organs, muscles and tendons. It uses a technique remarkably similar to a bat's echolocation: sound waves are emitted from a handheld transducer, and the sound that bounces back, or echoes', is registered by the scanner. These sound waves are then interpreted as an image and displayed in real time on a monitor. The images are remarkably clear, and can be used to determine the gender of your unborn child.
The technique is widely used in medicine, particularly in the fields of cardiology, gastroenterology and urology, and can be also used in therapeutic applications. For instance, ultrasound can be used by dental hygienists to clean teeth, break up troublesome kidney stones and treat cataracts.
An ultrasound scan has many advantages; it provides live' images, enabling a sonographer to give a rapid diagnosis. Ultrasound equipment is widely available, and examinations can even be performed at a patient's bedside thanks to portable scanners. It is an inexpensive method of investigation compared to others, and most importantly, there are no known long term side effects, and the mother-to-be will experience no discomfort during a scan.
An ultrasound scan is only part of the antenatal care that you would receive here at Innermost Secrets. We understand that you cannot put a price on peace of mind, and as such, put an experienced team of obstetrics and fetal/maternal medicine experts at your disposal.
