Ultrasound Uses

Ultrasound Uses

1. Ultrasound waves can be used in medicine

   • Breaking down kidney stones
     • Hard masses that block the urinary tract
       • Ultrasound beam concentrates high-energy waves at the kidney stone which turns it into sand-like particles
         • Pass out naturally, so good method because no surgery is necessary and its relatively painless
   • Pre-natal scanning of a fetus
     • Ultrasound waves pass through the body, but whenever they reach a boundary between two different media (fluid in womb and skin of fetus) some of the wave is relfected back and detected
       • The exact timing and distribution of the echoes are processed by a computer
         • Produces video image of fetus

2. Medical Imaging is full of Compromises

   • Doctors have to make compromises between getting a good enough image to diagnose accurately whilst keeping the patient at as low a risk as possible
   • Is it safe?
     • Ultrasound waves are non-ionising, and safe as far as we know
     • X-rays are ionising
       • High doses can cause cancer
         • Definitely not safe for developing babies
     • CT scans use a lot more x-ray radiation than standard x-rays
       • Patient exposed to even higher amounts of radiation
         • CT scans only done if really needed because of the high radiation dosage
   • What about image quality?
     • Ultrasound images are typically fuzzy - can make it harder to diagnose some conditions
     • X-rays produce clear images of bone and metal, but little else
     • CT scans produce detailed images and can be used to diagnose complicated illnesses
       • High resolution images can make it easier to work out the problem, and 3D imagery can be used in the planning of complicated surgery

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