ZWAP

=__Ultrasound__=

SOURCE: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=genus&bhcp=1

//General Imaging//: It is also called scanning or sonography. Most people think that it's just an X-ray of a baby, but it's more detailed than that. As a matter of fact, when performing ultrasound procedures, doctors don't use ionizing radiation aka X-ray. They expose part of the body to high frequency sound waves to get internal pictures. They can show internal organ movement and even blood flowing through blood vessels. Ultrasound procedures, such as having part of the body exposed to anything can sound painful or risky, but in fact the process is painless on babies as well as older humans. Conventional ultrasound displays the images in thin, flat sections of the body. Advancements in ultrasou`nd technology include 3-D ultrasound that chages the sound wave data into 3-D images. 4-D ultrasound is 3-D ultrasound in motion.

//Doppler Ultrasound//: is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood as it flows through a blood vessel, including the body's major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and neck. There are three types of Doppler ultrasound: == =__Common Uses of Ultrasound__=
 * Color Doppler: uses a computer to convert Doppler measurements into an array of colors to visualize the speed and direction of blood flow through a blood vessel.
 * Power Doppler:[|] is a newer technique that is more sensitive than color Doppler and capable of providing greater detail of blood flow, especially in vessels that are located inside organs. Power Doppler, however, does not help the radiologist determine the direction of flow, which may be important in some situations.
 * Spectral Doppler: Instead of displaying Doppler measurements visually, Spectral Doppler displays blood flow measurements graphically, in terms of the distance traveled per unit of time.

Ultrasounds are commonly used to diagnose conditions due to irregularity in organs after sickness //It helps doctors diagnose symptoms such as:// //Areas, internal organs that it can access but is not limited to are:// =__How is the procedure performed?__=
 * pain
 * swelling
 * infection
 * heart
 * blood vessels
 * liver
 * gallbladder
 * spleen
 * pancreas
 * kidneys
 * bladder
 * uterus, ovaries
 * UNBORN CHILD
 * eyes
 * thyroid glands
 * scrotum

<= Transducer, data reciever

The patient is lying face up to that the doctor can access the spots on the body where the gel should be applied and the transducer should be placed. The transducer is then placed firmly on the place of interest and it sends ultrasound waves and records the echoing waves. That clear gel is applied to the desired area to make sure that the transducer makes firm contact and that there are no air bubbles or air pockets between the patient's skin and the transducer so that the reading from the patient is clear and precise.

In some ultrasound studies, the transducer is attached to a probe and inserted into a natural opening in the body. These exams include: Most ultrasound examinations
 * **Transesophageal echocardiogram.** The transducer is inserted into the esophagus to obtain images of the heart.
 * **Transrectal ultrasound.** The transducer is inserted into a man's rectum to view the prostate.
 * **Transvaginal ultrasound.** The transducer is inserted into a woman's vagina to view the uterus and ovaries.