What are the uses of ultrasound in medicine?
Jun 01, 2011 · Diagnostic sonography (ultrasonography) is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions. Sonography is effective for imaging soft tissues of the body.
How do therapeutic ultrasound devices work?
Also, ultrasound is used for real-time imaging of the location of the tip of a catheter as it is inserted in a blood vessel and guided along the length of the vessel. It can also be used for minimally invasive surgery to guide the surgeon with real-time images of the inside of the body. Therapeutic or interventional ultrasound.
What are the applications of ultrasonic therapy?
Summary. Applications of ultrasound in medicine for therapeutic purposes have been an accepted and beneficial use of ultrasonic biological effects for many years. Low power ultrasound of about 1 MHz frequency has been widely applied since the 1950s for physical therapy in conditions such as tendinitis or bursitis.
Can ultrasound be therapeutic?
Ultrasound may be used to assist with biopsies. Opthalmic ultrasound examines the structures of the eye. Ultrasound can help assess joint inflammation. Ultrasound imaging can help diagnose causes of pain, swelling, and infection inside the body. Physicians use ultrasound imaging to examine the structures of internal organs for damage after illness.
What is ultrasound in medical terms?
Key words: medicine, ultrasound. 1. INTRODUCTION. In physics the term “ultrasound” applies to all acoustic energy with a frequency ...
What is the purpose of ultrasound sonography?
Diagnostic sonography (ultrasonography) is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions . Sonography is effective for imaging soft tissues of the body.
What are the different types of resolution?
Resolution can be divided into: 1 Lateral (sideways) 2 Axial (depth)
What is the best way to image soft tissue?
Sonography is effective for imaging soft tissues of the body. Sonographers typically use a hand-held probe (called a transducer) that is placed directly on and moved over the patient. A water-based gel is used to couple the ultrasound between the transducer and patient (1, 2).
When was ultrasound first used?
The first practical application of ultrasound is recorded during the World War I in detecting of submarines. The application of ultrasound in medicine began in fifties of last century.
What is the simplest ultrasound?
These are: A-mode: A-mode is the simplest type of ultrasound. A single transducer scans a line through the body with the echoes plotted on screen as a function of depth. Therapeutic ultrasound aimed at a specific tumor or calculus is also A-mode, to allow for pinpoint accurate focus of the destructive wave energy.
When to use linear?
Linear can be used at all locations where an access “window” into the body is large enough. In tests of shallow bodies of interference in an area near the transducer (near field) is negatively affecting the image quality, so should be used the “spacing path” (the layer of water or gel).
What is ultrasound used for?
One of the most common uses of ultrasound is during pregnancy, to monitor the growth and development of the fetus, but there are many other uses, including imaging the heart, blood vessels, eyes, thyroid, brain, breast, abdominal organs, skin, and muscles.
What is medical ultrasound?
Medical ultrasound falls into two distinct categories: diagnostic and therapeutic. Diagnostic ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic technique used to image inside the body. Ultrasound probes, called transducers, produce sound waves that have frequencies above the threshold of human hearing ...
What is diagnostic ultrasound?
Diagnostic ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic technique used to image inside the body. Ultrasound probes, called transducers, produce sound waves that have frequencies above the threshold of human hearing (above 20KHz), but most transducers in current use operate at much higher frequencies (in the megahertz (MHz) range).
How are ultrasound waves produced?
Ultrasound waves are produced by a transducer, which can both emit ultrasound waves, as well as detect the ultrasound echoes reflected back. In most cases, the active elements in ultrasound transducers are made of special ceramic crystal materials called piezoelectrics. These materials are able to produce sound waves when an electric field is ...
How does an ultrasound transducer work?
When used in an ultrasound scanner, the transducer sends out a beam of sound waves into the body. The sound waves are reflected back to the transducer by boundaries between tissues in the path of the beam (e.g. the boundary between fluid and soft tissue or tissue and bone).
What is the purpose of Doppler ultrasound?
Doppler ultrasound is commonly used to determine whether plaque build-up inside the carotid arteries is blocking blood flow to the brain.
Is it safe to use ultrasound?
Diagnostic ultrasound is generally regarded as safe and does not produce ionizing radiation like that produced by x-rays. Still, ultrasound is capable of producing some biological effects in the body under specific settings and conditions.
What are the biological effects of ultrasound?
Other potential mechanisms for biological effects of ultrasound include the direct action of the compressional, tensile, and shear stresses. In addition, second-order phenomena, which depend on transmitted ultrasound energy, include radiation pressure, forces on particles and acoustic streaming.
What frequency is ultrasound used for?
Low power ultrasound of about 1 MHz fre quency has been widely applied since the 1950s for physical therapy in conditions such as tendinitis or bursitis.
What is ultrasonic energy used for?
The use of ultrasonic energy for therapy continues to expand, and approved applications now include uterine fibroid ablation, cataract removal (phacoemulsification), surgical tissue cutting and hemostasis, transdermal drug delivery, and bone fracture healing, among others.
When was ultrasound first used in physical therapy?
Physical Therapy. Unfocused beams of ultrasound for physical therapy were the first clinical application, dating to the 1950s , which often has been referred to simply as “therapeutic ultrasound” (Robertson and Baker, 2001). This modality now typically has a base unit for generating an electrical signal and a hand-held transducer.
When was ultrasound first used?
Unfocused beams of ultrasound for physical therapy were the first clinical application, dating to the 1950s , which often has been referred to simply as “therapeutic ultrasound” (Robertson and Baker, 2001). This modality now typically has a base unit for generating an electrical signal and a hand-held transducer.
What is ultrasound assisted liposuction?
Another procedure, ultrasound assisted liposuction, is widely used in cosmetic surgery for the purpose of removing excessive fat tissue (Mann et al. 2008). The mechanism of action apparently involves cavitational fat cell break up with removal of the fat emulsion by suction through the probe.
What is HIFU used for?
HIFU application in therapy and treatment of disease is one of the more active areas of research and development among all the non-ionizing-energy modalities such as radiofrequency, lasers, and microwaves. For example, HIFU is under investigation for therapeutic modulation of nerve conductance (Foley et al. 2008).
What is ultrasound used for?
Ultrasound has many different uses that help a physician evaluate, diagnose, and treat various medical conditions. One of the best known uses for ultrasound imaging is fetal ultrasound, which is used to examine a baby during pregnancy. It’s also used to view the ovaries and uterus during pregnancy. An abdominal ultrasound examines abdominal tissues ...
Is ultrasound a medical tool?
There are no known risks associated with ultrasound imaging and it typically does not require special preparation. Ultrasound is a versatile medical tool. MANA Imaging & MRI is accredited by the American College of Radiology in Ultrasound, MRI, and Computed Tomography (CT) Click To Tweet.
What are the different types of ultrasounds?
What are some of the different uses for ultrasound imaging? 1 One of the best known uses for ultrasound imaging is fetal ultrasound, which is used to examine a baby during pregnancy. It’s also used to view the ovaries and uterus during pregnancy. 2 An abdominal ultrasound examines abdominal tissues and organs. 3 Bone sonometry is a type of ultrasound imaging that examines bone density and assesses risk for osteoporosis. 4 Breast ultrasound screening can help detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts. 5 An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart, allows assessment of the overall function of the heart. Echocardiograms are often combined with Doppler ultrasound, which visualizes blood flow through blood vessels and organs. 6 Ultrasound may be used to assist with biopsies. 7 Opthalmic ultrasound examines the structures of the eye. 8 Ultrasound can help assess joint inflammation. 9 Ultrasound imaging can help diagnose causes of pain, swelling, and infection inside the body. 10 Physicians use ultrasound imaging to examine the structures of internal organs for damage after illness. 11 Ultrasound can help detect genital and prostate problems.
Does ultrasound have radiation?
Unlike other types of medical imaging, such as x-ray scans or CT scans, ultrasound imaging does not subject the patient to ionizing radiation. Instead, ultrasound uses sound waves to generate images of the inside of the body.
What is the purpose of abdominal ultrasound?
It’s also used to view the ovaries and uterus during pregnancy. An abdominal ultrasound examines abdominal tissues and organs. Bone sonometry is a type of ultrasound imaging that examines bone density and assesses risk for osteoporosis.
Can breast ultrasound detect breast cancer?
Breast ultrasound screening can help detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts. An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart, allows assessment of the overall function of the heart. Echocardiograms are often combined with Doppler ultrasound, which visualizes blood flow through blood vessels and organs.
What is the difference between echocardiogram and ultrasound?
Echocardiograms are often combined with Doppler ultrasound, which visualizes blood flow through blood vessels and organs. Ultrasound may be used to assist with biopsies. Opthalmic ultrasound examines the structures of the eye. Ultrasound can help assess joint inflammation.
What is ultrasound used for in physical therapy?
Ultrasound in physical therapy is not to be confused with diagnostic ultrasound, which is an ultrasound that is used to see the inside of the body, such as checking on a fetus during pregnancy.
How does ultrasound work?
Ultrasound is performed with a machine that has an ultrasound transducer (sound head). A small amount of gel is applied to the particular body part; then your physical therapist slowly moves the sound head in a small circular direction on your body.
What are the contraindications for ultrasound?
There are some instances where you should not use ultrasound at all. These contraindications to ultrasound may include: 1 Over open wounds 2 Over metastatic lesions or any active area of cancer 3 Over areas of decreased sensation 4 Over parts of the body with metal implants, like in a total knee replacement of lumbar fusion 5 Near or over a pacemaker 6 Pregnancy 7 Around the eyes, breasts, or sexual organs 8 Over fractured bones 9 Near or over an implanted electrical stimulation device 10 Over active epiphyses in children 11 Over an area of acute infection
Can a physical therapist use ultrasound?
Your physical therapist may use ultrasound to help improve your condition. If so, be sure to ask about the need for ultrasound and possible risks. Also, be sure that you are also performing an active self-care exercise program in the PT clinic and at home. If you are actively engaged in your rehabilitation, you can ensure that you have a safe and rapid recovery back to normal function.
What is the effect of ultrasound on the body?
Deep Heating Effects. Ultrasound is often used to provide deep heating to soft tissue structures in the body. Deep heating tendons, muscles, or ligaments increases circulation to those tissues, which is thought to help the healing process.
Why is ultrasound used in the body?
Ultrasound is often used to provide deep heating to soft tissue structures in the body. Deep heating tendons, muscles, or ligaments increases circulation to those tissues, which is thought to help the healing process. Increasing tissue temperature with ultrasound is also used to help decrease pain.
How does deep heating help with pain?
Deep heating tendons, muscles, or ligaments increases circulation to those tissues, which is thought to help the healing process. Increasing tissue temperature with ultrasound is also used to help decrease pain. Deep heating can be used to increase the "stretchiness" of muscles and tendons that may be tight.
What is ultrasound therapy?
Ultrasound Therapy. Ultrasound therapy has been used as an electrotherapy treatment modality by therapists over the last 50 years.It involves passing high frequency sound waves into soft tissue.
Is therapeutic ultrasound still being disputed?
To date, there is still very little evidence to explain how ultrasound causes a therapeutic effect in injured tissue.
How are ultrasound waves produced?
Ultrasonic waves or sound waves of a high frequency that is not audible to the human ear are produced by means of mechanical vibration in the metal treatment head of the ultrasound machine. The treatment head is then moved over the surface of the skin in the region of the injury transmitting the energy into the tissues.
How does ultrasound affect healing?
In most cases, this cannot be felt by the patient themselves. This increase in temperature may cause an increase in the extensibility of structures such as ligaments, tendons, scar tissue, and fibrous joint capsules. In addition, heating may also help to reduce pain and muscle spasm and promote the healing process.
How does ultrasound therapy help with inflammation?
Effects on the inflammatory and repair processes: One of the greatest proposed benefits of ultrasound therapy is that it is thought to reduce the healing time of certain soft tissue injuries . Ultrasound is thought to accelerate the normal resolution time of the inflammatory process by attracting more mast cells to the site of injury.
Why is ultrasound therapy important?
One of the greatest proposed benefits of ultrasound therapy is that it is thought to reduce the healing time of certain soft tissue injuries. Ultrasound is thought to accelerate the normal resolution time of the inflammatory process by attracting more mast cells to the site of injury.
Does ultrasound help with scar tissue?
Hence ultrasound may accelerate the proliferative phase of tissue healing. It is thought to improve the extensibility of mature collagen and so can have a positive effect on fibrous scar tissue which may form after an injury.
What is therapeutic ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound is a tool in wide use by physical therapists. If it is offered to you as part of your treatment, it should always be part of an overall treatment plan that includes exercise, stretches, or other focused activities.
What is ultrasound used for?
This is diagnostic ultrasound used to capture images of organs and other soft tissues.
Why do physical therapists use ultrasound?
Your physical therapist (PT) might use therapeutic ultrasound to provide deep heating to soft tissue to increase blood circulation to those tissues. This could, theoretically, promote healing and decrease pain.
Is therapeutic ultrasound effective?
The effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound has not been documented through research. For example, a 2014 study. Trusted Source. on 60 people with knee osteoarthritis concluded that the use of the treatment offered no additional benefit in pain improvement and functions.
Does ultrasound help knee pain?
on 60 people with knee osteoarthritis concluded that the use of the treatment offered no additional benefit in pain improvement and functions. Although not necessarily supported by clinical research, therapeutic ultrasound is a popular and widely used treatment offered by many physical and occupational therapists.
What is ultrasound used for?
Ultrasound is an effective way to treat swelling of muscles, joints, and ligaments. . Ultrasound can be used to treat a wide range of health problems. But, it's most commonly used to solve problems in muscle tissue. The heating effect of the ultrasound helps to heal muscle pain and reduces chronic inflammation.
What are the benefits of ultrasound therapy?
Ultrasound physical therapy has many advantages: 1 The procedure is generally painless and easy to do. You'll be awake during the whole process without the need for anesthetics or pain relievers. 2 Therapeutic ultrasound has no known harmful effects when done right by your therapist. 3 The therapy will help alleviate body pain in the affected areas. 4 Ultrasound physical therapy is noninvasive; hence, it's safer than other methods.
What is ultrasound physical therapy?
Ultrasound physical therapy is a branch of ultrasound, alongside diagnostic ultrasound and pregnancy imaging. It's used to detect and treat various musculoskeletal issues you may have including pain, tissue injury, and muscle spasms.
How does ultrasound work?
How Ultrasound Physical Therapy Works. The ultrasound machine works by sending an electric current through crystals found in the ultrasound probe — also known as the ultrasound wand. The probe vibrates, causing waves to travel through the skin to the body underneath. The waves transfer energy to the tissues to cause the desired effects.
What is thermal ultrasound?
Thermal ultrasound therapy is used to treat stretch pain, soft tissue pain, and other musculoskeletal issues. It can also be adapted to treat advanced issues like uterine fibroids, prostate cancer, and skin problems. .
How does ultrasound help with swelling?
Ultrasound is an effective way to treat swelling of muscles, joints, and ligaments. Ultrasound can be used to treat a wide range of health problems. But, it's most commonly used to solve problems in muscle tissue. The heating effect of the ultrasound helps to heal muscle pain and reduces chronic inflammation.
Why is ultrasound important?
Ultrasound also helps tissue fluids flow better — which means that more lymph passes through the tissues. Lymph is an important fluid that transports white blood cells throughout the body. So, in this way, ultrasound helps your damaged cells fight infections and heal faster. Risks of Ultrasound Physical Therapy.
What is therapeutic ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound is a technique which utilizes sound waves (which cause vibration) to decrease pain or improve joint function. These vibrations occur at high frequency—so high that the vibrations are undetectable to the person receiving ultrasound treatment. The vibrations may be pulsed or continuous.
Does ultrasound help with arthritis?
In studies looking at people (in vivo studies), it's thought that the main effects of ultrasound therapy on arthritis are mechanical, not thermal. The mechanical effects may work to stimulate cartilage directly.
Is ultrasound good for osteoarthritis?
Although it is a treatment option for osteoarthritis, its effectiveness is still questioned. Therapeutic ultrasound differs from diagnostic ultrasound in that therapeutic ultrasound is used for treatment (as a therapy) whereas diagnostic ultrasound is used to diagnose disease (or manage pregnancy). Just as diagnostic ultrasound has been ...
How common is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is extremely common , affecting many people over the age of 65 to some degree, and can play a large role in reducing quality of life. There is a wide range of treatments available ranging from pharmaceutic medications to "natural" treatments such as magnets.
Does ultrasound produce heat?
Continuous ultrasound vibrations generate noticeable heat, while pulsed ultrasound vibrations do not. It's thought that both thermal and non-thermal effects are responsible for any effects these treatments may have. Typically, therapeutic ultrasound is performed in a physical therapy clinic or in a doctor's office.
How long does it take for a therapeutic ultrasound to work?
When using ultrasound for thermal effects, tissues must reach a temperature of 40°C to 45°C (104 F to 113 F) for at least 5 minutes.
Who is Carol Eustice?
Carol Eustice is a writer who covers arthritis and chronic illness. She is the author of "The Everything Health Guide to Arthritis.". Scott J. Zashin, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology.
