The uses of sonar in medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The uses of sonar in medicine - Essay Example In 2D ultrasound technology alone, many improvements have occurred with reference to resolution, image quality, range of indications and availability. In 3-D scanning, the sound waves are sent in different angles and a sophisticated computer program is used to reconstruct a 3-dimensional volume image using the reflected echoes, thus allowing one to gauge not only the height and width of the organs but also the depth. 3D ultrasound has applications in cardiovascular scanning also. The technology allows quantification of the volume of the plaque and direct visualization of arterial atherosclerosis. 3D ultrasound has has applications in interventional sonology, both in operative interventions and minimally invasive procedures. Therapeutic applications include lithotripsy, tumor ablation, acoustic targeted drug delivery, phacoemulsification, cleaning of teeth, sclerotherapy, lipectomy and elastography. Thus, sonar has wide range application in medical field. Introduction Sonar, commonly known as ultrasound, is a cyclic sound pressure delivered at a frequency that is much above the upper limit of hearing of human beings. Sound waves above 20 kilohertz fall into this category. Sonar is applied for several uses in many fields including medicine. In medicine, sonar is mainly used for diagnostic purposes and is called ultrasound. The method of diagnosis is known as ultrasonography. There are 2 types of sonography, 2D and 3D. 2D is more commonly used. It has has several therapeutic applications. 2D ultrasound is useful to visualize tendons, muscles and many internal organs in order to capture the size, structure and pathological lesions through real time tomographic images. In 2D ultrasound technology alone, many improvements have occurred with reference to resolution, image quality, range of indications and availability. In 3-D scanning, the sound waves are sent in different angles and a sophisticated computer program is used to reconstruct a 3-dimensional volume image using the reflected echoes, thus allowing one