Ultrasound and Echocardiography

Ultrasound imaging is another state-of-the-art diagnostic tool utilized at Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Most commonly used for observing babies inside the womb, another form is called echocardiography. This test shows colorized images of the beating heart.

Ultrasound imaging is a safe, painless diagnostic procedure. It bounces sound waves off internal organs or structures and then captures the returning echoes as a photograph or moving image on a monitor.

There is no injection or radiation exposure associated with ultrasound studies.

Our 3D-ultrasound unit displays pictures with remarkable clarity.

Here's what to expect during an ultrasound:

A jelly-like substance is applied to the skin where the ultrasound will be performed. The gel improves the transmission of sound.
A transducer device is gently pressed across the area of observation.
Sound waves pass from the device through your skin and bounce back to the transducer.
These echoes are captured and made into images that are instantly displayed on a monitor.
These images are captured on other media for a radiologist to review and interpret.

Ultrasound can also be used to examine the arterial and venous systems and is used by the Sky Lakes Medical Center Vascular Labs.

During pregnancy, ultrasound is used for several purposes:

To monitor the growth, development and well being of a fetus
To check the baby's due date
To measure the size of a baby's head and determine her age
To confirm the number of babies

Go to the Sky Lakes Medical Center Family Birth Center to learn about services offered there.

Visit our Pregnancy Center.

Call Diagnostic Imaging at 541-274-6269 for more information.