Ultra
Sound Gel
What is Ultrasound Gel
Ultrasound gel or Ultrasound Conductivity Gel is a type of conductive medium that is used in ultrasound diagnostic techniques and treatment therapies. Ultrasound gel is water-based. It is placed on the patient’s skin at the beginning of the ultrasound examination or therapy. The transducer, which is the device used to send and receive sound waves, is then placed on top of it. Ultrasound gel is also used with a fetal Doppler / Color Doppler, which can be employed to allow parents and doctors to listen to the heart beat of an unborn child i.e. fetus.
Doctors, hospitals, and clinics use ultrasound
technology for diagnostic purposes. It works by
passing sound waves into a person’s body. Once in
the body, they don’t remain for long. Instead, they
bounce off the organ or other part of the body the
doctors are trying to view. The sound waves then
move back through the transducer, and they are
ultimately analyzed by a computer, which allows the
analyzed sound waves to be viewed on a monitor or
even printed out for doctor or patient use.
Ultrasound technology is also used to take images of a developing baby while it is still inside its mother’s uterus. This can help doctors determine whether it is developing normally or not; it can even allow medical professionals to see how the blood is flowing in the fetal organs. Sometimes ultrasounds are used to introduce sound waves to a person’s body for the purpose of producing heat that is said to relieve pain.
Ultrasound gel is typically clear and thick, but not uncomfortably sticky. When it is applied to the skin, it doesn’t dribble or drip off. It adheres to the skin lightly until it is wiped off at the end of the procedure. The most common complaint about ultrasound gel is that it is cold. For this reason, many medical professionals use special warmers to make their gel a more comfortable temperature before applying it to a patient’s skin.
Types of Gel
There are many brands of ultrasound gel varying in consistency. Some sonographers--those who specialize in ultrasound imaging--prefer thicker gels, while others prefer thinner. The type of gel does not affect the quality of the ultrasound and is chosen based on the sonographer's preference.Ultrasound requires many types of movement by the sonographer. Many of these are subtle and require a frictionless surface to allow the sonographer to obtain the perfect image. Ultrasound gel acts as a lubricant that allows for easy movement of the transducer (camera) across the skin.
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