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Knowing Your Ultrasound Types: An Overview & Their Benefits

Ultrasounds are non-invasive imaging modalities that use sound waves to create human body images. Ultrasounds may be classified into several types based on frequency range, properties, and usage. Here is an overview of various ultrasound types with details about their use and benefits. Let's get started.

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound imaging technology allows you to see inside your body without surgery. During an ultrasound, a technician applies a gel and places a transducer (a device with the ultrasound probe) on your skin.

Sound waves are sent by the transducer and bounce off your internal organs, muscles, and other tissues. A machine outside the body converts the reflected sound waves into an image on a computer screen. A radiologist may ask you to change positions during the exam. This allows the technician to examine your entire body.

Most people find that an ultrasound is a painless procedure. However, if pregnant, you may feel slight cramping in your abdomen. Ultrasounds are also used for fetal monitoring during pregnancy to track the growth and development of a fetus. They are often done during routine prenatal visits and can be done while laying on your back, on your side, or standing up. Below are types of ultrasound and how they are used:

Continuous Wave (CW) Ultrasound

In this technique, a continuous flow of high-frequency sound waves is applied. The ultrasound machine uses a large-diameter probe to transmit sound waves that pass through the body and the tissue. Sound waves reflect back from the desired body part and travel through the body again. The transit time is the time it takes for waves to travel from the probe to the body and back.

In this technique, the transit time is kept constant. This makes the intensity of the reflected waves stable, and a continuous image is formed on the screen. This type of ultrasound is used for scanning non-metallic materials. It is ideal for scanning soft tissues like the liver, spleen, kidneys, and brain. It is also used in ophthalmology to examine the eye.

Discrete Wave (DW) Ultrasound

This is a pulsed ultrasound in which the transmitted ultrasonic waves are of low intensity and short duration. The waves are turned on and off at a high rate (typically 50,000 times per second) to produce a series of discrete pulses. The "on time" is the time between two consecutive pulses. The corresponding time interval between the end of one pulse and the beginning of the next is called the "off time."

This technique is used to examine a part of the body in which the sound waves are scattered after passing through a part of the body. The scattered waves are collected during the "off time" and produce a discrete pattern on the screen. This type of ultrasound is used for scanning metallic surfaces. It is mainly used in materials, wiredrawing, and control.

B-Mode Ultrasound

This technique is used to generate a B-mode image of the targeted area. A single modulated beam is passed through the targeted area and reflected back. The reflected beam is again passed through the targeted area and focused onto the screen. In this technique, the frequency and intensity of the sound waves vary to produce B-mode images. A single-beam approach makes B-mode images of both hard and soft tissues.

It is the most commonly used technique in medicine, engineering, and petroleum. It is used for imaging various organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, and brain. This scan is also used for blood flow studies. It is also used to evaluate blood flow in the arteries and veins.

Doppler Ultrasound

This technique is used for analyzing blood flow. A single beam is passed through the blood flow and reflected. The reflected beam is again passed through the blood flow and focused onto the screen.

In this technique, both the frequency and intensity of the sound waves are varied to produce an image whose brightness is proportional to the blood flow velocity. This technique is used to assess the blood flow in the arteries, veins, and heart. It is also used to study the blood flow in the fetus during pregnancy.

Color Doppler Ultrasound

This type of ultrasound is used to generate a color flow image of the targeted area. A single modulated beam is passed through the targeted area and reflected. The reflected beam is again passed through the targeted area and focused onto the screen. In this technique, the frequency and intensity of the sound waves vary to produce a color flow image. This technique is used to assess blood flow in the arteries and veins. It is also used for the evaluation of blood flow in the fetus during pregnancy.

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Ultrasound

This technique is used for static imaging objects. Here, the transmitted ultrasonic waves are modulated at a very high rate (10 to 1,000 MHz). The modulation rate is so high that the waves appear as a continuous signal and produce a constant wave. Therefore, it is also called a continuous wave (CW) ultrasound.

This technique is used for static imaging objects. It is used for medical imaging and for material testing. It is also used for testing the welding of metallic structures.

Near-Infrared (NIR) & Mid-Infrared (MIR) Ultra Sounds

These techniques are used for imaging objects in the liquid or gaseous state. These techniques use a mid or near-infrared light source modulated at a low frequency. They are also referred to as Discrete Wave (DW) Ultrasound techniques.

These techniques are used for medical imaging and for material testing. They are also used for testing the welding of metallic structures.

FAQs: Types of Ultrasound

What is the difference between Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and an Ultrasound?

There are a few differences between MRI and ultrasound:

First, MRIs use a strong magnetic field to create detailed anatomy images. In contrast, ultrasounds use sound waves to create images of the fetus.

Second, MRIs produce a 3D image while an Ultrasound is capable of producing a 2D image of the body part.

While both techniques are useful for imaging the fetus, it should be noted that ultrasounds are generally better for imaging the fetus than MRIs.

How do I prepare for an Ultrasound?

How you get ready for your ultrasound will be determined by the kind of scan you'll be getting. You might need to go to the drink loads of water and have an urge to pee before an ultrasound of the abdomen, which includes a pregnancy ultrasound and an ultrasound of the female reproductive system. You may need to change your eating habits or abstain from food and liquids for many hours before other types of ultrasounds. However, some ultrasounds need no pre-examination preparation at all.

What do the results of ultrasound imply?

Even if your baby's ultrasound returned fine during pregnancy, that doesn't ensure anything. There is currently no test that can reveal such information. On the other hand, typical outcomes could indicate:

Your child's development is typical at this point.
You are at a healthy level of amniotic fluid.

Although ultrasounds can sometimes detect congenital abnormalities, none were identified.

Conclusion

Ultrasounds are non-invasive imaging techniques that use sound waves to create human body images. They are classified into various types based on frequency range, properties, and usage. This article from Cured.com has discussed these ultrasound types, their uses, and their benefits. We hope this information has been helpful for you. Continue reading our blog for more health-related updates and knowledge.