The 26 Review
- What is an Ultrasound An ultrasound is a medical device that uses high-frequency soundwaves to capture live images from inside the body.
- What is a Butterfly Ultrasound A butterfly ultrasound is a handheld, portable advanced imaging device.
- How The ultrasound transducer sends high-frequency soundwaves into the body that create echos when they collide with a dense object, like bones or organs.
- Why Ultrasounds aid in providing valuable information on the inside condition of the body without more invasive techniques.
- Recommended For Patients who struggle with plantar fasciitis, bone spurs, or achilles tendonitis
Let’s take a closer look…
An ultrasound is an advanced imaging test that uses high-frequency soundwaves to capture live images from the inside of the body. Ultrasounds allow doctors to see problems within the organs, tissues, and vessels without making an incision. Most people associate ultrasounds with pregnancy scans, however these scans can provide valuable information for a variety of other ailments and conditions. A medical professional may order an ultrasound if the patient is experiencing pain, swelling, and/or other symptoms that require an internal view of the body. Conditions and ailments like plantar fasciitis, bone spurs, and achilles tendonitis all require ultrasounds to pinpoint the exact location of the issue. In addition, an ultrasound also helps guide surgeons’ movements during certain medical procedures, such as biopsies. All in all, ultrasounds can be incredibly helpful to medical professionals.
What to Expect
To prepare for an ultrasound there are a few steps to take into consideration depending on the area or organ being examined. For ultrasound of the foot/ankle, no fasting or additional preparation is required.
To perform an ultrasound, a special lubricating jelly will be applied to the skin. This lubricating jelly prevents friction, allowing the ultrasound device to glide without issues. Said device is called a transducer. The transducer sends high-frequency sound waves through the body, while the jelly helps to transmit the soundwaves. The waves echo as they hit a dense object, such as a bone or organ, those echos are then reflected back into a computer, where they form a picture. The whole procedure typically lasts a few minutes and patients typically have no restrictions afterwards.
Pros and Cons
Ultrasounds carry minimal risks since they use no radiation. For this reason, they are generally the preferred method for examining any condition within the body. The one disadvantage of an ultrasound is that the images produced are not as clear as the ones created from X-rays or CT scans.
The Butterfly Ultrasound
The Butterfly iQ+ is an accessible, handheld ultrasound device that has changed the medical field. This device is an innovative low-noise product that offers sharp images with faster processing ability. This device improves assessment by allowing the images to be captured and interpreted easily no matter where you are; in a hospital or clinic.