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For years, the golden standard of prenatal screening was the ultrasound. Expecting parents could see their unborn child, and doctors could diagnose potential problems... However, a next-generation device offers startling clarity and three-dimensional images of the unborn: 4D ultrasound.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound technology uses ultra-high frequency sound waves and transmits them into the body. The sound waves are echoed inside, and the ultrasound interprets these echoes into a picture. This type of screening shows the internal organs and the fetus inside the uterus in a 2D, black-and-white image.
4D
The term "4D" may seem confusing, but it's relatively simple. This "fourth-dimension" is actually a measurement of time and, in reference to ultrasound, is meant to imply a constantly updated, "live-action" view of the fetus.
4D Ultrasound
A 4D ultrasound works on the same principle as a regular ultrasound. However, the sound waves in a 4D ultrasound are sent back at multiple angles, providing a constantly updated, three-dimensional image of the fetus in the uterus.
Benefits
4D ultrasound offers physicians real-time images of physiology and organs at work, which allows diagnoses and determinations to be made regarding fetal development, detect abnormalities in the fetus or placenta, detect birth defects and identify high-risk pregnancies.
Other Uses
4D ultrasound can also be used for other internal scanning and diagnosis, such as identifying an internal growth or tumor, analyzing organ functions, breast scanning in place of a mammogram and urology.
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