How an Ultrasound B Probe Works
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Ultrasound
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An ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure that is used to scan a patient to reveal a condition. Most people think of an ultrasound being used to monitor a baby in the womb so that doctors can stay updated on the progress of mother and child. This procedure, which works off of sound waves instead of any radiation, which makes it safer than X-Rays or other such procedures, is considered to be universally safe. There are a few varieties of ultrasound, but generally speaking, they all operate off of the same idea, and with the same basic principles.
Transabdominal
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For an example, we'll use transabdominal ultrasound. In this process a handheld device is gently moved over the abdomen of a pregnant woman. The device, called a transducer, sends out sound waves and then listens for their echoes. When a sound wave travels through a woman's tissues, it will be reflected back sooner when it encounters something. The machine then takes these echoes and turns them into electronic signals. The signals are then turned into a picture to represent what the sound waves encountered.
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Ultrasound B
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An ultrasound B probe is very similar to the above ultrasound procedure with one difference. When a sound wave travels through a tissue, it will create a series of echoes, or spots. Of these spots, different amplitudes, the look of the sound wave, will be created. A B scan will take into account all of the different amplitudes and the spots they create when it creates a picture. Areas with the highest amplitude will show up brighter (the B stands for brightness), and as such an ultrasound B probe creates a more in depth picture than just a regular ultrasound.
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