History Of The Ultrasound Machine

Over the years, technology advances at a rapid pace and individuals benefited from such growth. In the medical technology context, we do not need to tolerate with the long hours and painful process of detecting any potential illness as compared to the past traditional methods. Today, we use ultrasound machines to help us accurately diagnose medical conditions which save millions of lives every single year. Let us look back at how this equipment is designed and finally transform to our current ones.


How Ultrasound Machines Come About?

The idea and concept of this device originally came from the usage of sound waves to measure distances underwater. It is now termed SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) which is used for underwater navigation and exploration.

In 1826, Dr. Jean-Daniel Colladon from Switzerland accomplished his experiment by utilizing a bell in underwater to detect the speed of sound in Lake Geneva. In the late 1800s, it is intensively studied by scientists on the fundamental physics of sound waves, refraction, propagation and transmission. Eventually, Lord Rayleigh from England came out with his own book on "The Theory of Sound" in 1877.

Not forgetting Lazzaro Spallanzani from Italy who was the one that discovered how bats could move around in the dark by utilizing reflected echo. These echoes were inaudible to humans but it can actually help bats to identify the obstacles such as the distance, size and shape. Francis Galton from England capitalized on the findings and created high frequency sound vibrations which were inaudible to human ears in 1876 via the Galton Whistle.

Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie from France learned about the piezo-electric effect in 1880. It was then discovered that ultrasound can be created and detected using megahertz. This is slowly improvised and finally established to become a hydrophone


Incorporation of SONAR with Medical

Gradually, it is discovered by Dr. Ian Donald that sonar could be used in the medical context to provide better analysis for the patients. The usages of ultrasound become known after WWII. He began experimenting on ultrasound and learns that it was extremely accurate in detecting and distinguishing fibroids, abdominal tumors and cysts.

On the other hand, Dr. Karl Theodore Dussik from Austria studied about the ultrasound transmission in 1942 and came out with several items on the medical sonar. Because of the findings of Dr. Ian Donald, there have been vast improvements in the medical technology which leads us to the current state. We are now even able to observe the blood flow within our vessels and I believe has helped many individuals escape the “door of doom”.

You will be able to find various kinds of ultrasound machines available in the market and each serves different purposes depending on the condition of the individuals and the area of organ that is required to be observed. Ultrasound scanning poses almost no risk to individuals and is widely used in the medical world today.

Thanks to the doctors and scientists that have spent their life experimenting and discovering new technology which becomes what we have today. Kudos!