Ultrasound Probes / Transducers

Ultrasound Machines

The ultrasound machine or US machine is one the most useful and versatile types of medical equipment. Using high frequency inaudible sound waves delivered by means of ultrasound probes, these devices can be used to diagnose diseases and abnormalities, monitor pregnancy and other normal functions, and can even be used to deliver therapy.

Ultrasound is often preferred to x-ray because no possibly harmful ionizing radiation is produced by ultrasound and it has no know diagnostic risks. It cannot be substituted in every case for x-rays, but it is actually better for many uses. The “ultra” refers to sound that is beyond the human range of hearing so no sound is detected by the ears. An echo reflects the sound waves back into the ultrasound transducer and an image is record of what is found. This is also used in industrial studies as well as medical uses.

Transducers, or ultrasound probes, make contact with the skin with the use of a special conducting gel that makes a continuous connection with the skin surface. A similar ultrasound probe delivers higher levels of US when this is used in physical therapy. US heats the tissue through the vibrations these high speed sound waves produce. The warming increased blood flow and relieves pain and swelling associated with soft tissue injuries. Care must be taken to avoid overheating an area by always keeping the transducer in motion and limiting treatment duration.

Medical ultrasound is often used to diagnose conditions such as appendicitis and gall bladder disease rapidly and easily. In appendicitis, the US may be able to confirm a diagnosis faster than with blood testing for the infection and works better than x-ray or CT scanning and is less expensive. It is standard to obtain an US image whenever gallstones or other gall bladder problems are suspected.

Everyone has heard of using ultrasound to follow and even diagnose pregnancy. Using the ultrasound probes and gel, and assisted by a full bladder, the female reproductive system is easily visualized, and during pregnancy can be vital. The size of a fetus, the gender, location of the placenta, and whether the pregnancy is extra uterine or normal is easy to detect with US.

Ultrasound technology is also used to image the heart. Usually the ultrasound probe is passed over the heart through the skin of the chest and an image of function and blood flow is recorded, called an echocardiogram. A more precise form of imaging called a TEE or transesophageal echocardiogram is done by passing a special probe down the throat and imaging from the inside. Aneurysms and other conditions can be better detected with this method, but it requires patients to be anesthetized or heavily sedated.