Ultrasound imaging is a common diagnostic medical
procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves
to produce dynamic images (sonograms) of organs,
tissues, or blood flow inside the body. Prenatal
ultrasound examinations are performed by trained
professionals, such as sonographers, radiologists,
and obstetricians. The procedure involves using a
transducer, which sends a stream of high-frequency
sound waves into the body and detects their echoes
as they bounce off internal structures. The sound
waves are then converted to electric impulses, which
are processed to form an image displayed on a
computer monitor. It is from these images that
videos and portraits are made.
Obstetricians use ultrasound at a very low power
level to check the size, location, number, and age
of fetuses, the presence of some types of birth
defects, fetal movement, breathing, and
heartbeat. When ultrasound is used by a qualified
clinician to check for this kind of medical
information, the FDA says the medical benefit far
outweighs any risk. At somewhat higher exposure
levels, given daily for weeks at a time, ultrasound
is used to speed the healing of bone fractures. At
even higher levels, the technology produces a
heating effect in tissue that is useful in treating
sprains and pulled muscles.