The Use Of Ultrasound

Since the early 1900’s ultrasound has been employed widely in the medical field. Over the course of time ultrasound has grown in popularity among many hospitals, medical centers, and even centers that are based solely around this imaging modality. As with any medical imaging, ultrasound technology is ever changing. It is important as a sonographer to stay up to date with these changes; however, not all technological advances correlate with the general sonographer’s duties. Although ultrasound is commonly associated with diagnostic imaging, there are new technologies that utilize ultrasound in different manners. A new technology in which ultrasound is utilized is in body shaping and composition. There are two ways in which this fairly new advancement …show more content…
Ultrasound can alter adipose tissue with both micromechanical disruption and cavitation. Cavitation in ultrasound is a construction and collapse of millions of minute bubbles in a liquid; an alternation of frequencies causes cavitation. The frequency used in this specific type of ultrasound is called resonance frequency which is reliant on the tissue and its surrounding environment (Zoccali, Cinque, Orsini, Palumbo, Scandura, Miconi, La Torre, Cifone, and Giuilani, 2016, abstract). Many seek this procedure due to either too high caloric intake with deficiency of exercise or a condition in which one is unable to lose adipose tissue by other means. This technology utilizes what’s called acoustic wave therapy or AWT. Acoustic wave therapy is non-invasive and employs acoustic waves to stimulate the patients’ tissues. The procedure is done with the CELLACTOR® SC1. This system uses extracorporeal pulse activation technology or EPAT. The CELLACTOR® SC1 has two hand pieces that operate differently. C-ACTOR utilizes a high intensity electromagnetic system. Acoustic planar waves are generated and have an effect on both cells and their metabolism. The permeability of the cells increases, allowing for easier escape of fat. The waves created by the C-ACTOR also aid in redeveloping connective tissue. The second hand piece correlated with the …show more content…
Ultrasound could be adopted as an alternative to other body composition tests. It has even been found that the utilization of ultrasound in measuring body fat had excellent reliability and accuracy compared to other tests. This method of concluding an accurate body composition measures the thickness of subcutaneous fat. The BodyMetrix BX2000 A-mode ultrasound is used in conjunction with associated body view software in order to observe and record these fat measurements. As with any other diagnostic ultrasound, gel is applied to the transducer and moved back and forth; it is important that minimal pressure is applied as this could compromise the true thickness of the subcutaneous fat. This procedure is used for both coaches and the athletes themselves to track fat loss, muscle mass gains, and estimating ideal competitive weight (Cain, 2015, p.