An ultrasound probe emits waves into the body and transmits data to a computer to produce an internal image. The probe is usually placed on the body with gel, and different probes are used for different areas. Ultrasounds can diagnose various conditions and are relatively safe.
An ultrasound probe, also known as a transducer, is a medical diagnostic device that emits ultrasound waves into a patient’s body and transmits the data to a computer to produce an internal image of the body, known as an ultrasound. The ultrasound waves bounce off tissue masses and body boundaries, and these echoes are recorded by the ultrasound probe and interpreted by the computer, which then creates the ultrasound on a monitor. The ultrasound probe is usually placed directly on the patient’s body and moved over the area to be viewed. Since water is a good conductor of sound waves, a water-based gel is usually placed on the patient’s skin to facilitate the movement of ultrasound waves, and patients undergoing obstetric ultrasound are usually asked to get tested with a full bladder.
The quartz crystals in the ultrasonic probe change shape and emit ultrasonic waves when energized with an electric current. These sound waves bounce off the body and strike the quartz crystals, which then produce an electric current that the probe sends to the computer. Changes in current help the computer “see” shapes and masses inside the body. This electric current is what the computer uses to create the sonogram.
Ultrasound probes come in various shapes and sizes for use with different areas of the body. The most common types of probes are used externally and are about the size of a bar of soap, and are usually flat or slightly curved at the transmitting end. Vaginal ultrasound probes are a special type of probe used in early pregnancy to detect the presence and position of a fetus. This type of ultrasound probe is inserted directly into the vagina to obtain an image of the uterus, and is longer and thinner than probes used outside the body. Similar probes are designed to be inserted into the rectum or esophagus to view portions of the colon, prostate, stomach, and other internal organs.
There are numerous medical uses for ultrasound technology. Prenatal ultrasounds are perhaps the most recognized type of ultrasound test, but ultrasounds can also be used to diagnose circulation problems and heart conditions, detect tumors and blockages, and diagnose and treat kidney stones. Ultrasounds are relatively safe and carry no known substantial risks to the patient, but as with any medical procedure, care should be taken to avoid unnecessary procedures.
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