Many people think of sonography as a tool used strictly for imaging the unborn; however, this is only one aspect of a multifaceted technology used by many specialties in and outside the medical field. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound to produce images of objects in a fluid, a technique made possible via the inverse piezoelectric effect, which is the application of a small electric current to a crystal to induce size distortions in that crystal that in turn produces high-frequency sound. This action takes place in the ultrasound transducer, also known as aprobe or wand.The high-frequency vibration within the transducer transmits the sound waves into the body region in which the transducer is pressed. These sound waves bounce back and are interpreted and transformed into images displayed on a computer monitor. Over the years, ultrasound technology has proven useful in many different fields, and the future likely will bring better resolution, cheaper means of production, ease of use, and increased numbers of treatment applications using high-frequency vibration.
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