Reviews and News on Ultrasound Machines

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is a combination of ultrasound and endoscopy. Endoscopy is the procedure of inserting a tube into the rectum or mouth to view a patient’s digestive tract. Ultrasound machine technology uses sound waves of high frequency to generate images of various internal organs and body parts.  Thus, endoscopic ultrasound technology can generate information and images of the digestive tract and the tissues and organs that surround it.

EUS differs from traditional ultrasound because a miniature ultrasound transducer is attached on one end of the endoscope. When the endoscope is inserted into the patient’s digestive tract, doctors are able to view high quality images of internal body organs, and collect important information about blood vessels, the intestinal wall, and lymph nodes. The fact that the transducer is much closer in proximity to the area being examined, the images are much more detailed and accurate than those that would be produced by traditional ultrasound machines. EUS technology is fairly new diagnostic tool used in medicine. It is effective in the prognosis of cancer in the esophagus, lungs, stomach, and pancreas. EUS provides doctors with, sometimes life-saving information that pertains to the depth and spread of cancer in the body. This information is useful for staging cancer.

EUS is also used by doctors to perform a procedure known as fine needle aspiration, or FNA, that collects tissue, using ultrasound guidance, with a thin needle, so that it can be examined under a microscope by a pathologist. This technique is used on patients who have suspicious tumors or enlarged lymph nodes.The risks associated with EUS are minimal; however, because they involve endoscopy procedures, they do pose a higher risk factor than traditional ultrasound machines. Some patients have reported reactions such as nausea, skin rash, or hives. Serious patient documented complications for EUS procedures are extremely rare, but have included perforation of the intestinal wall which inevitably requires surgical repair.

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In 2005, a Detroit-based trauma surgeon by the name of Dr. Scott Dulchavsky, began to study the use and effectiveness of ultrasound machine technology in outer space Since astronauts in space had no access to doctors or other medical professionals during a space mission, Dr. Dulchavsky’s ultimate goal in the study was to provide a way for the astronauts to assist in diagnosing their own medical problems. Based on his research, he concluded that ultrasound machine technology would be effective in diagnosing approximately five hundred various health problems that could occur while astronauts were traveling in space.

While it is true that there are a variety of diagnostic imaging machines that are available, ultrasound machines are by far, the most lightweight, compact, and transportable, making them ideal for places with a limited amount of space such as spaceships. Another advantage to using ultrasound machines in this capacity is that imaging results are delivered instantly, unlike traditionally x-rays, where there is a waiting period to develop the x-ray. Ultrasounds are able to find a problem quickly.

The test was conducted by NASA aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the project was called ADUM (Advanced Ultrasound in Microgravity). Although the astronauts used in the study only had about four hours of training using the ultrasound machine equipment, with the guidance of medical experts on the ground, they were able to use the machines with little effort. The images were then broadcasted back down to the ground for doctors to evaluate.

This study provided an important gateway for non-medical, average people to use ultrasound technology interactively with medical professionals to obtain necessary diagnostic medical information. Is was an important breakthrough since it could later be used in various other situations, like in ambulances, sport team locker rooms, rural areas, and on battlefields.

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In addition to traditional blood tests, ultrasound technology is commonly being used to diagnose and treat medical thyroid conditions. The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that makes and sends various hormones directly into the bloodstream. It has a butterfly-like shape and is located beneath the Adam’s apple in the front of the neck. Ultrasound machine imaging is a noninvasive medical procedure that produces a real-time picture of the thyroid gland.

Ultrasound imaging technology is similar to the sonar that is used by bats, fisherman, and ships. When a sound wave targets an object, it bounces back. This echo that is produced then is able to determine specific information such as the shape, size, and consistency of the object.

Ultrasound machine scanners consist of a video monitor, a computer, and a transducer, which is a hand-held device that is attached to the scanner. The transducer produces high-frequency sound waves that penetrate the body and records the echoes that are returned from the body tissue. The ultrasound image is projected onto a video display screen immediately, and typically some of the moving pictures are captured in still images. Ultrasound imaging can be used to identify changes and abnormalities in tissues, organs, and vessels, and detect an abnormal mass or tumor.

Standard diagnostic ultrasounds do not pose any harmful risks to patients. Ultrasound imaging is easy to use, painless, inexpensive, and does not use ionizing radiation. Medical professionals have reported that ultrasound technology is an exceptional tool for guiding and performing minimally invasive procedures such as needle aspiration and biopsies. Ultrasound machines produce a clearer picture of soft tissues than x-ray images can provide. Ultrasounds are most commonly used to determine if the thyroid is functioning properly. However, it is not possible to determine whether the thyroid is overactive or underactive without a radioactive iodine or blood test.

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There are approximately 31 million people who currently suffer from chronic back pain in the United States. Back pain can be caused by various situations, from overexertion to more serious conditions. Experts have surmised that eighty percent of adults will suffer from back pain during some period of their lifetime and it has been noted as being the most common reason for missed days at work. If back pain is undiagnosed or untreated, it can lead to a chronic condition that causes constant pain and significantly limits mobility.

Patients that have been medically diagnosed with chronic back pain and have tried rest, prescription drugs, heat and cold therapy, and acupuncture are turning to ultrasound therapy before considering surgery.
Certain treatments can effectively treat back pain and patients respond well to the treatments. Patients are now able to heal their back ailments in the comfort of their homes using portable ultrasound machines without the expense of drugs or physical therapy.

Ultrasound machine therapy treats back pain by treating the affected area with ultrasonic sound waves at a rate of a million times per second. As the sound waves penetrate the surface layers of the skin they cause the soft tissue and muscles to vibrate while producing moderate healing vibrations that relieve pain and soothe inflammation. As the tissues and muscles relax, blood flow is increased and swelling is significantly reduced. Increasing blood flow allows more oxygen to reach the tissue and tendons while removing cell waste and aiding healing.

If you are a patient that has been diagnosed with chronic back pain by a physician, and the condition is preventing you from normal daily activities such as work or playing sports, and other treatments have not provided you with pain free results, you may want to consider Ultrasound machine Therapy. Ultrasound Therapy has successfully reduced healing time for back pain patients and can end pain permanently.

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Known as one of the safest types of diagnostic tests, ultrasound is a non-invasive method of viewing specific areas of the body. While not known to produce any harm to humans when used properly, diagnostic ultrasound should only be used by fully trained medical practitioners.

A recent trend toward “boutique” 3-D ultrasound pictures has caused some concern within the medical community because they are used on pregnant women by non-medical staffers. Whenever any type of diagnostic equipment is used outside of a medical environment, it is never considered a safe practice, but when the service is promoted to pregnant women, it is even more disturbing. Ultrasound machines may be relatively safe, but they can still have a mechanical or thermal effect on tissue, especially when a machine uses increased output.

In ultrasound scanning, “output” is the amount of energy used to obtain the desired image. With the recent introduction of 3-D Doppler imaging technologies, these machines have not been in use long enough to gage the effects of repeated use. Pulsed images that utilize “spectral Doppler” and color-flow imaging make more use of B-mode imaging. This has led some physicians to believe that ultrasound machines should not be used on pregnant women more often than medically necessary.

Regulations on these machines have not changed the ways in which they can be used in a medical setting, but they have placed the onus of responsibility on the operator of the machine, rather than the manufacturer, to ensure that a diagnostic test is done safely. This means the operator must be familiar with the scanner’s settings and understand the potential mechanical or thermal effects on human beings.

Most trained portable ultrasound technicians are taught to use the lowest output power and shortest scanning time necessary to gather the required data. There may be some situations where it is rational to use higher output, but this type of sensitivity will only come when a practitioner has been thoroughly trained on the equipment.

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In a recent announcement to the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, GE Healthcare says that they have added new elastography functions to the company’s Logiq E9 ultrasound machines. Elastography in ultrasound is a technology that uses high-frequency transducers, along with basic compression techniques for simpler procedures that are easy to reproduce.

As opposed to less agile techniques in ultrasound imaging, the Logiq E9 uses an elastography tool that is able to more gently obtain images of internal tissue structures. It also allows physicians to better manage patient healthcare decisions and increases their overall confidence in a diagnosis. This type of imaging ultimately will lead to a reduction in invasive procedures.

Generally, the Logiq E9 ultrasound machine is known for giving healthcare professionals the freedom to use ultrasound techniques in new ways. It offers more powerful and versatile tools than that improve workflow and provide high quality images on all body types.

One feature of these machines is Scan Assist, a scanning program that was designed by user feedback and is completely customizable. Basically, with Scan Assist, clinicians can get immediate help with the next step of a scan, allowing them to focus on more important elements of the exam.

GE Healthcare offers a complete line of state-of-the-art ultrasound machines to meet the needs of every healthcare situation, from mobile units for emergency medicine to full-scale hospital equipment that can be used to meet a variety of patient care needs. The Logiq E9, with its new elastography capabilities, is expected drive revenues for the company into 2011 and beyond. With the expert tools on this machine, ultrasound can do more than ever before.

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It seems like every day that ultrasound technology finds more applications within the medical community, and medical equipment manufacturers are in a rush to develop devices that can take advantage of this trend. Until recently, ultrasound was primarily utilized by doctors of obstetrics and gynecology, with limited use as an alternative imaging tool in cardiology and orthopedics. But thanks to major developments in Doppler technology and image processing, portable ultrasound machines are now used in practically every area of medicine.

The S8 portable scanner from Sonoscape is evidence of these changes, and along with other Sonoscape models it features the most advanced imaging technology available today. The S8 includes multi-beam process and micro-scan imaging technologies, as well as automated tissue optimization, a High-Q noise filter and more. HD probes make this model capable of 4D imaging, which is important for cardiologists.

This fully portable ultrasound model also features one-touch optimization of scanned images and other types of imaging techniques including panoramic, trapezoidal and micro-scan. It has a 15” color LCD monitor, which allows for both color and Doppler multi-beam images. Hospitals who purchase this type of equipment are usually looking for a versatile and powerful ultrasound machine scanner to use in the emergency room or in a cardiac-care unit, but it is also a popular model for OB-GYN and general imaging applications.

The advanced state-of-the-art technology used in the Sonoscape S8 means it provides some of the clearest ultrasound images available. Plus, it is easy to maintain and priced competitively at only one-third the price of competing models.

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Just last year, insurance companies announced plans to limit coverage of mammogram screenings in women who are under 45 or who are not within a high-risk category for breast cancer. Part of the reason for this recommendation may have been motivated by the high cost of the tests, but some in the medical community believe mammograms expose patients to higher levels of radiation than necessary.

Until recently, ultrasound scanning was not used to detect cancer because it could only provide a two dimensional image of the area in question. However, the new 3-D Doppler ultrasound machines use a special technique that allows doctors to evaluate the blood flow through the major arteries of the body, as well as the veins of the arms, legs, neck and abdomen.

Mammography is still the primary diagnostic tool for finding abnormalities in the breast, but the use of ultrasound, particularly Doppler 3-D ultrasound, is in on the rise. One reason for this is the improved safety of ultrasound, and another is relative cost of the test. Plus, mammography can be less than accurate when a woman has dense, glandular breasts. Many clinicians prefer to use ultrasound machine imaging as a secondary method of determining whether an abnormality is a sold mass, a fluid filled cyst, or both. It can also show some of the area’s other unique characteristics.

In addition to the size, shape and texture of a breast abnormality, Doppler ultrasound can assess the blood supply in lesions of the breast. As a result, it is often used as a supplemental method of cancer screening for women who are at high risk for breast cancer and unable to tolerate an MRI.

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Medical imaging or ultrasound machine technology has progressed in numerous ways over the years. Ultrasound machine capabilities and functions are more widely used in the medical field today and provide more effective diagnostic treatment than in the past. Ultrasound machine technology uses echoes and high frequency sound waves to create imagery. The industry has advanced by providing expedience, convenience, better image quality, and enhanced memory capacity. Also, portable or hand-carried ultrasound machines offer more mobility and easy to operate systems have allowed less experienced medical providers to provide quality care. It is important to note that ultrasound machines have reduced overall healthcare costs since they have replaced more costly diagnostic exams.

Years ago, ultrasound machines were utilized primarily in the fields of gynecology and obstetrics. Doctors and other medical professionals used the technology to observe and monitor prenatal conditions such as fetal size, position, gender, and growth rate. Recently, gynecologists have discovered that ultrasound machines are valuable tools for the detection of breast cancer. In addition to gynecology and obstetrics, ultrasound machines are effectively being used in other medical fields to detect abnormalities and for cancer screening.

Here are some other uses for ultrasound machine technology in the medical field:

* Emergency room workers are using ultrasound machines as a diagnostic tool in the ER.
* Cardiologists are using ultrasound machines to provide an image of the heart that can identify function abnormalities and measure blood flow.
* Urologists are able to use ultrasound machine technology to detect kidney stones and prostate cancer.
* In addition, ultrasound machines have recently been used in conjunction with rectum and colon exams and for treating chronic tendonitis.

Ultrasound machine technology is significantly beneficial to the medical community since it can be utilized without radiation and it can diagnose problems quicker than x-rays

Thanks to a revolutionary new approach, neurosurgeons can now avoid radiation and scalpels when performing brain surgery.  Using a new ultrasound machine in conjunction with MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), neurosurgeons can now precisely burn out very small portions of malfunctioning brain tissue without ever cutting the skin.  Based on a preliminary study performed in Switzerland, the use of this new ultrasound technology on nine chronic pain patients has shown that the technology can be safely used in humans.  The next step is to test its effectiveness with other disorders, such as Parkinson’s.

Ultrasound machines, used in conjunction with MRI, are responsible for this groundbreaking discovery, which is based on using extreme precision to create lesions deep in the brain without the need to perform traditional brain surgery.  A neurosurgeon at the University of Virginia, Neal Kassel, has been directly involved in developing new applications for focused ultrasound.  He is chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation in Charlottesville, VA.

How is high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) different from diagnostic ultrasound?

By using a special device, intense ultrasound beams can be focused on a small piece of tissue.  The beams can heat it up and destroy it without breaking the skin.  Currently, this ultrasound technology is being used to ablate uterine fibroids, and is being tested for use in breast and other cancers.

One Israel-based ultrasound technology company, InSightec, is developing experimental HIFU devices for use in brain surgery.  The major challenge in developing this technology is figuring out how best to focus beams through the skull, because the skull absorbs and distorts the path of energy from sound waves.  Also, because ultrasound beams absorb energy and convert it into heat, the temperature of the skull can go up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.  As a result, the device has a built-in cooling system to prevent skull tissue from overheating.

An experimental version of InSightec’s device is now being tested in 5 medical centers around the world, and neurosurgeons like Neal Kassel hope this will give ultrasound equipment manufacturers the impetus start focusing on the brain.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Portable Ultrasound, portable ultrasound machines, Ultrasound Machines, Used Medical Equipment