Ultrasound technology has given doctors the ability to peer into the inner workings of the body like never before. This has allowed for mothers to see their children before they're born, doctors to spot organ complications, and has also aided in the diagnosis of numerous diseases. However, ultrasound technology continues to improve. Here is a look at some of the newest technology and research being produced in the field of ultrasound technology.
3D and 4D Ultrasound
You might be familiar with the typical 2D image offered by most ultrasound devices. This 2D ultrasound technology offers a valuable look at different parts of the body and remains an essential diagnostic tool for doctors. However, new technological advancements have not only led to ultrasound devices that can capture a 3D image inside the body, but 4D ultrasounds add an additional layer of possibilities as well.
The use of 3D ultrasound is proving an essential tool, allowing you to see your baby's physical features like never before. With 3D ultrasound, doctors can better spot deformities, such as issues like a cleft lip or spinal issues. These technologies also allow doctors to look at organs from all angles, helping spot issues like cancer, kidney stones, or gallstones in great detail. At the same time, 4D ultrasounds provide a real-time look at an area inside the body due to faster imaging processing speeds.
Volumetric Ultrasound Imaging
New advancements have been made in measuring the volume of the areas where ultrasound targets. Traditional ultrasound was only able to capture a single hazy image of tissue, but now newer ultrasound machines can capture multiple clear layers of tissue, helping to capture different volume densities of tissue. Physicians can then better assess the health of the tissue, spot abnormalities, and capture a better picture of your health.
This type of technology is now frequently being used in areas such as scanning for breast cancer, quickly creating highly accurate images that pick up even the slightest lesions or cancerous tissue growth.
Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier
New uses are also being explored with ultrasound technology. For example, a study published in Nature demonstrated that researchers were able to control which molecules passed the blood-brain barrier through the application of ultrasound frequencies. The technology has the ability to allow certain drugs that could help with disease like Parkinson's reach the brain that normally cannot pass the impermeable blood-brain barrier. Drugs designed with this ultrasound method in mind could one day help cure a wide range of neurological conditions.
Due to developments in ultrasound technology, ultrasound is now competing with MRIs and CT scans for many different applications. Ultrasound produces no radiation and often offers the same level of accuracy of other methods. That's good news for you and the entire medical community. (For more questions about local ultrasounds, contact Central Iowa OB/Gyn Specialists, PLC)
Share12 November 2014
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.
