Most people hear "ultrasound" and think of the black and white pictures that proud parents show off after a visit to the doctor. 3D ultrasound is the next generation of that technology. It takes that flat image and "fleshes" it out to give a not-yet-born baby recognizable face and body parts. It can be used to help doctors diagnose conditions in other patients as well.

History

The modern 3D Ultrasound was invented by Stephen Smith and Olaf von Ramm while working at Duke University in the 1980's. It was patented in 1987. The original technology dates from the 1950's.

Function

Ultrasound machines use very high frequency sounds waves (3.5-7.0 megahertz) to create an image. A gel is commonly spread over the abdomen to help conduct the sound waves. A transducer or probe is moved over the area. Sound waves travel from the probe, bounce off the baby and return to the probe. The ultrasound machine then takes the information received and makes it into an image. This image is read on a screen and called a sonogram. Waves traveling straight produce a 2D flat image. By moving the transducer at different angles, technicians get a more life-like 3D image that gives parents a view of a baby's features.

Pregnancy Uses

The most common use of 3D ultrasound is to monitor the age, size and health of a fetus during pregnancy. It can also be used to check for birth defects that are harder to see with 2D ultrasound, such as cleft palates, or to notice physical features, like eye and ear location, that might suggest genetic birth defects. It can also be used to "see" organs like the heart. Many people also enjoy seeing the actual facial features of a baby and consider it a bonding experience.

Non-Obstetric Uses

3D ultrasound is also used on patients that are not pregnant. It is especially useful to examine the abdominal cavity and organs such as kidney, liver and gall bladder. It is extensively used for breast imaging in cancer prevention and treatment as well issues concerning the heart.

Facts and the future

As the price and size of the machines drop, doctors may turn to the 3D (and now 4D) technology more frequently as a diagnostic tool. Technology has advanced to 4D ultrasound, which takes the 3D images and puts them together and moves them, giving real time images similar to video.

Source:

Medical Physics Web

PregnancyInfo.net

Obstetric Ultrasound