Medical Imaging and Sonography
Sonography was built on the concept on echolocation – or the use of sound waves to determine placement of internal organs and supporting structures through images. Studies on echolocation were made in the early 1800s, setting up a foundation for how sound waves could be used in medical diagnostics. Learning about sonography’s history and its role in medical imaging is an important part of fully understanding health care in 2015.
The role of piezoelectricity
When you ask about the basics of sonography, piezoelectricity is a common concept you will hear or read about. Piezoelectricity was discovered by Pierre Curie in 1877. His studies revealed that oscillating sheets of crystal produced electricity – this is used in reverse when sound waves are being produced by a sonogram. The thin crystal sheets are located in handheld transducer, and when electricity is applied to them, they produce vibrations which create high frequency sound waves.
The role of piezoelectricity
When you ask about the basics of sonography, piezoelectricity is a common concept you will hear or read about. Piezoelectricity was discovered by Pierre Curie in 1877. His studies revealed that oscillating sheets of crystal produced electricity – this is used in reverse when sound waves are being produced by a sonogram. The thin crystal sheets are located in handheld transducer, and when electricity is applied to them, they produce vibrations which create high frequency sound waves.
Performing the sonogram
A sonogram machine is (generally) made up of two parts – the monitor and the transducer. Monitor is able to display the images created by rebounding sound waves while the transducer is manipulated to send sound waves through the body. The waves bounce off of solid structures such as bone, but are able to penetrate a few centimeters into tissue. These varying intervals of sound bouncing off create the images displayed on the monitor. Sonography education These basic concepts and skills are covered in the curriculum of all sonography programs in the country. You can choose ultrasound schools with available programs through the link. The best programs to study ultrasonography in are CAAHEP-accredited programs – schools whose curriculum has passed the nationwide standards for sonography education. You can choose to enroll in a campus-based program or an online program. Note: If you are interested in which schools offer online ultrasound tech programs, just visit the link to get an idea of what studying at home through the internet is like. Medical imaging Sonography falls under the category of medical imaging, a diagnostic procedure used even for basic cases. Medical imaging includes procedures that are able to take pictures of the body’s internal structures – without surgical intervention, an invasive procedure. While sonography can be performed sonography (when the transducer is inserted into the vagina or rectum), it is still non-surgical. |
The one-up sonography has on other medical imaging procedures is that is safe enough to be used on fetuses and cancer patients. Sound waves are not carcinogenic in anyway and are safe enough to be used on healthy patients or otherwise. Other medical imaging procedures such as medical resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) all use teratogenic emissions – radiation – which makes them unsafe for patients who are pregnant or immunocompromised.
Sonography job outlook and salary
By mid-2013, there were more than 58,000 sonographers employed in the country. They were earning $67,170 annually, from $32.39 per hour – a major step-up compared to technicians of similar diagnostic procedures who earn around $50,000 annually. The predicted increase in employment is actually 46%, one of the highest compared to the nationwide increase of only 11%. It goes to show that sonographers, in a span of ten years, will increase by just under half of the number of sonographers today.
Sonography job outlook and salary
By mid-2013, there were more than 58,000 sonographers employed in the country. They were earning $67,170 annually, from $32.39 per hour – a major step-up compared to technicians of similar diagnostic procedures who earn around $50,000 annually. The predicted increase in employment is actually 46%, one of the highest compared to the nationwide increase of only 11%. It goes to show that sonographers, in a span of ten years, will increase by just under half of the number of sonographers today.