The History Of Ultrasound
Impilo Medical Systems has been providing many medical facilities with ultrasound technology for years.
Where did this ultrasound technology come from though?
Where could it go in the future?
Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging Systems have been around for over one hundred and forty years, however, their use in medicine has been fairly recent.
Lazzaro Spallanzani was the first person to identify the fact that bats use a different type of “vision” to navigate when flying in the dark.
He found that bats use echolocation in order to fly through their dark caves and at night.
Echolocation is similar to the way ultrasound machines work in that reflected sound and how long it takes to come back to the bat, will give it an image of where best to fly.
Ultrasounds are akin in that they are able to develop an image through the use of reflective sounds.
Where Spallanzani was able to write about this sort of technology helping humans in the future, he was not able to develop a system which was functional.
Pierre and Jacques Curie, in 1877, found that electric charge found in crystals and bone and DNA emitted piezoelectricity.
Piezoelectricity’s discovery was able to lay the foundation for the development of the first underwater sonar detection systems, which began the innovation towards Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging Systems.
As time went on into the 1930s and 1940s, ultrasound machines were developed for physical therapy uses.
In the early 1940s, the Austrian physician Karl Dussik was the first-ever physician to utilise ultrasound technology for medical diagnostics in terms of finding tumours in the brain.
Real-time ultrasound imaging was created, in the 1950s, which allowed providers and patients the opportunity to see exactly what was going on in the specific area being focused on.
In 1975, the invention of colour encoded, two-dimensional images which again was a turning point in the creation of the Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging Systems we have today.
The 1980s saw the improvement of the real-time colour imaging as well as the three-dimensional scanners used for analysing the structure of the heart and chest.
As time has gone on we have seen the invention of a number of different types of Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging Systems which have revolutionised the way in which we are able to receive and perceive information about our bodies and how to treat them.
The Edan DUS 60 comes to mind, where an easy to use and understand the ultrasound system is being supplied to a large number of medical practices.
Impilo Medical Systems has always looked to acquire the highest quality ultrasound systems in order to help practices and patients alike.
With portable Ultrasound machines now available, being able to diagnose and treat individuals in rural or hard to reach areas has become much simpler.
The future of Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging Systems has come a long way since its discovery and has continued to improve.
Having the ability to now see clear images of lesions would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of physicians and scientists of the past.
The time efficiency has improved overall as well and more patients can be checked in a shorter amount of time meaning more people can be helped.
Adding to this, the precision of ultrasound machines gives more accurate diagnostics for doctors and medical staff to analyse.
The Uses Of Ultrasound Technology
Pregnancy
The first thing that people think about when they hear ultrasound in pregnancy.
Mainstream media and movies alike have portrayed the use of ultrasound machines mainly for the use of pregnancy and check-ups.
Ultrasounds are used for pregnant women and are safe as they do not emit any radiation.
The benefits of ultrasound systems are that they are able to detect the size of your baby, how many there are, the sex of the baby and if there are any potential problems with the health of your baby.
This can range from birth defects all the way to placental problems.
Diagnostics
The Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging System is used to analyse and potentially uncover any issues in the organs or soft tissue of the body.
We have seen better operations being conducted because issues were pinpointed in parts of the body such as the heart and vessels, liver pancreas and kidneys to name a few.
Of course, there has also been an improvement in targeting the area in the uterus where issues may be affecting the patient.
These Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging Systems are limited to certain areas as dense bone and places that contain gas or air are unable to be analysed.
Medical Procedures
The Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging System has allowed doctors to provide an even more reliable procedure on their patients as the system indicates exactly where the doctor should move tissue as well as where best to target a specific issue in the body.
Therapeutic applications
Soft tissue issues can sometimes be hard to locate and repair, however, ultrasound machines are able to help the medical professionals treat your injuries.
The Risks Of Ultrasound
With every technology there comes a point where questions are raised about the safety of the devices.
Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging Systems are no exception and depending on the quality of the research done, as well as when the research was done, there hold differing answers.
In terms of ultrasound during pregnancy, there has been researched done a number of years ago that states that the risk is almost non-existent.
However, some recent studies have found that foetal ultrasound could contribute to the foetus having a slower growth rate than those who do not undergo ultrasound diagnosis.
Another factor in ultrasounds is that it has lead to a number of false risks being seen in babies before they have been born, which has caused overcasting and unnecessary rises in stress levels.
The use of continuous waves opposed to intermittent waves in Doppler ultrasound has lead to may wondering what the effects the exposure has on an unborn child.
Three dimensional and four-dimensional ultrasound imaging has also been raised as a cause of concern as there has been no real long term study on the effects from the waves to the foetus.
South Africa
South Africa has a large capacity of trauma rates in the world and has a limited amount of ultrasound systems which help in understanding problems and injuries.
Although this was a serious problem in the recent past, it has slowly improved with the help of companies such as Impilo Medical Systems.
This poses a challenge as without properly knowing what the issue is, doctors find it difficult to effectively treat their patients, with procedures taking longer than they should.
Impilo Medical Systems understood that this was a concern and has built a business which helps patients and medical officials alike in better diagnosing a problem, while also helping to better prepare for the medical operations.
Interesting Facts About Ultrasound Systems
- In the 1940s the first ultrasound systems were used to measure the flaws in metal castings.
- The first time ultrasound was used in medicine was to image the ventricles of the brain.
- Ultrasound waves are able to be heard by dogs and cats. Humans, however, are unable to hear them as the frequency is too high.
- One of the smallest ultrasound devices created is able to fit into a blood vessel.
- 3D ultrasound is able to develop a moving image of a live beating heart.
- Ultrasound can determine the gender of an unborn child as early as between four to five months.
- Ultrasound systems are not only used on humans as veterinarians use the systems on their animal patients.
- Ultrasound is a reliable source of diagnostic information and is relatively low in cost.
- Ultrasound systems have become a useful asset during the actual procedure process.
- Ultrasonic systems are still used outside of the medical field on tasks such as welding, testing of items and in cleaning jewellery, to name a few.
- Ultrasound systems were only first used in the obstetrics and gynaecology sphere of medicine in 1957.
Nine Things To Focus On When Trying To Find A Good Medical Equipment Supplier
Innovation
Every day a new invention is created which helps in improving the efficiency of all sectors of business.
The medical field has always been at the frontier of innovation and therefore when looking to buy a certain ultrasound system, find a supplier who is willing to be creative and change the map again.
Focus On Quality
Quality will always be better than quantity and medical technology is no exception.
When looking for a supplier, you want to know that the Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging Systems that they are selling you is going to work as precisely and efficiently as possible.
This is not just so that your work life is convenient, more so that you are dealing with results of a patient which could impact the way in which their surgery gets performed.
Worse than this, if things are wrongly diagnosed because of the use of low-quality machines, this puts the patient and your practice in danger.
A product such as the Edan DUS 60 is a reliable, high quality, ultrasound device which gets the job done.
Innovative Delivery Systems
Working with a medical equipment supplier can mean that you have to fork out quite a large sum of money.
Medical technology is quite expensive and so finding the right supplier who wants to try and find better ways to decrease the transportation of your supplies, therefore decreasing the delivery costs, is crucial for your pocket.
This not only helps in freeing up funds for other uses but also shows you that the supplier is not solely concerned about making a profit for themselves.
International Understanding
Choosing a supplier which is knowledgeable in the global standards of medical equipment will save you time and money.
The reason for this is that they are giving you the international quality of equipment, such as ultrasound systems, which will work better, faster and longer.
Total Value Of Ownership
The total value of ownership is the methodology which highlights what a business is getting from the product or service, including the supplier, above and beyond the product or service.
This means that are there other benefits or advanced processes due to the fact that the business has purchased a product besides simply the item.
For example, is their special packaging services when purchasing Edan DUS 60 systems, which will help in safely transporting them from one space to another.
Communication
Communication is a vital part of knowing whether or not your supplier is the right choice.
When you have an open, honest and transparent supplier for your medical equipment needs, you feel as if you are working with someone who wants to solve issues for your business.
Communication in price, quality and delivery makes the entire relationship work smoothly.
Impilo Medical Systems pride themselves with giving their clients quality communication.
Malleable
This feature of a supplier, which we touched on above, is something which can develop a long-lasting relationship.
Finding a supplier who is willing to come up with solutions which will better serve your business in terms of products, delivery, time and cost, will put your business in a better position and will ease your mind in trying to find the right supplier.
Market Knowledge
You don’t just what a supplier who has the products you need, you want a supplier who is knowledgable about the medical equipment they are supplying to you.
Impilo Medical Systems understands ultrasound technology and is always looking to find the next innovation in ultrasonic systems.
Financial Solidity
Having a supplier who wants to ensure that you are not overspending on equipment, and not supplying you with low-quality equipment at high prices is something that all businesses want to find.
With this, the important thing is to have a relationship with your suppliers, such as Impilo Medical Systems, which is bread on loyalty and honour.
These two key values will allow you to feel secure enough to spend on bulk orders and niche high priced items, as you know your supplier is giving you the best deal possible.
Contact Impilo Medical Systems For More Information
Impilo Medical Systems is a South African based Ultrasound machine supplier. Their goal is to provide the highest quality ultrasound equipment to all medical practices so that their patients can receive accurate information. Contact Impilo Medical Systems for more information.
