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Ultrasound is a fantastic
imaging modality, not just because of the high-quality images
it produces but because its also simple, painless and does
not involve ionizing radiation. The working principle behind
ultrasound is similar to that of sonar, which is used by the
U.S. Navy. First a conducting gel is applied to the body part
being examined. Then a transducer, a wand-like instrument,
is moved across the gel. The transducer emits high frequency
sound waves which penetrate through the gel and the patient's
skin. As the sound waves penetrate various body parts, they
are bounced back, like echoes, and returned to the transducer.
The transducer then relays these signals to the ultrasound
machine which constructs an image.
XRCMI's ultrasound equipment is the finest
available. It features "compound imaging" which
averages three different angles for each sound wave to produce
sharper, clearer images than conventional ultrasound. We are
also able to produce 3-D images of certain structures, even
an unborn baby, depending on the baby's position within the
womb.
Ultrasound is useful in a number of body
locations. It is most commonly employed in imaging the pelvis
and abdomen, although it is also frequently used in the area
of the neck and in extremities. It can also be enhanced by
a special Doppler to image moving blood flow within blood
vessels.
Many ultrasound studies require a
special preparation, such as a full bladder to better visualize
structures like the uterus and ovaries. For a full description
of the preparation instructions necessary for exams, please
click here. For more information about ultrasound, please
call us at (574) 243-0100 or to send us an e-message, clickContact
Us.
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