During the later 1800s, physicists started identifying the fundamental

physics of sound waves, refraction, propagation and transmission. Lazzaro

Spallanzani from Italy was the one that discovered ultrasound in 1794 when he
showed how bats can accurately navigate in the dark using echo reflection from
inaudible sound in high frequency.
Thomas Young in 1801 described phase shifting the amount a wave has
shifted horizontally from the original wave, in relation to light waves this concept
is used in Ultrasound for the production of 3D images. In 1842 Christian Doppler
described what we now call the Doppler effect the frequency of sound, light or
other waves as the source and observer move towards or away from each other, this
effect causes a change in pitch, this is now used in ultrasound as the basis for blood
flow studies in pelvic vessels and the fetus. Pierre Curie in 1880 described the
piezo electric effect. An electric charge is produced by mechanical pressure on
certain crystals. The sound hits the piezoelectric crystal and then has the reverse
effect causing the mechanical energy produced from the sound vibrating the crystal
to be converted into electrical energy. In 1915, Paul Langevin built the first
hydrophone which used ultrasonic waves to locate the position and distance of
submarines and is the principle behind the measurement of the fetus and abdominal
masses by ultrasound. In 1943 Watson-Watt and his team developed the radar using
electro-magnetic waves. This was later adapted for ultrasound to produce two

dimensional images.
Ultrasound was initially developed as a submarine detection method in
World War I to detect underwater enemy submarines using high-frequency sonar. It
was not until the 1940s that Karl Dussik started utilizing ultrasound as a diagnosis
medical tool. Dussik and his brother Friederich used an ultrasound beam to search
for brain tumors, locate cerebral ventricles, and cavities in the brain containing
cerebrospinal fluid. The use of ultrasound to monitor fetal development was done
by Ian Donald in the 1950s. Donald also published a seminal diagnostic study and
worked with a team to develop an ultrasound machine dedicated to medical
diagnosis. Over time ultrasound machines have become smaller, portable, and the
pictures become sharper. Ultrasound is the most utilized form of diagnostic
imaging available today, after X-ray exams. Today, ultrasound is used for fetal
growth and well being, early pregnancy disorders, and abnormalities in the
abdomen or reproductive system. The only disadvantage with ultrasound is that the
result is very much dependent on the skill of the operator.
Ultrasounds are used to detect changes in appearance, size or contour of the
organ, tissue, and vessels. Ultrasonography is a safe and painless way to produce a
picture of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound is a unique and
safe method to scan the smallest embryo. High frequency sound waves are
transmitted from the probe (the device used to examine the patient) into the gel that

is applied onto the skin. The small amount of warm water-base gel that is put on
the skin allows the sound waves to travel back and forth. The gel helps the
transducer make secure contact with the body, eliminating air pockets between the
transducer and the skin that can block the sound waves from passing into the body.
The transducer both sends the wave and receives the echoing waves. When the
transducer is presses into the skin, it directs small pulses of inaudible, high
frequency sounds waves into the body. The sounds waves bounce off internal
organs, fluids tissues, the sensitive microphone in the transducer records tiny
changes in the sound's pitch and direction. The transducer collects the sounds that
are bounced back and a computer then interprets those sound waves to create an
image. By measuring the echo wave its possible to determine how far the object
is, as well as the object's size, shape, and consistency; whether the object is solid or
filled with fluid. Ultrasounds are captured in real-time so they can show the
structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing
through the vessels. Ultrasound doesn't use radiation exposure like the ones used in
x-rays.

Bibliography
The development of ultrasound. (2015, April 2). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from
http://www.scotland.org/features/the-development-of-ultrasound/

Woo, J. (n.d.). A short History of the development of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and

Gynecology. Retrieved April 14, 2015, from vhttp://www.obultrasound.net/history1.html