Ultrasound technology with its advancements is vital for delivering high-quality patient care. Innovations including high-frequency ultrasound, 3D//4D imaging, contrast enhanced ultrasound, elastography, and point-of-care ultrasound, have expanded the capabilities of ultrasound imaging and improved diagnostic accuracy.
B-Mode imaging, also known as brightness mode, is the fundamental technique in ultrasound imaging. It produces two-dimensional images based on the echoes received from tissues and organs. Understanding the principles of B-Mode imaging, such as gain adjustment, depth control, and image optimization, is crucial for obtaining diagnostically valuable images. M-Mode imaging, on the other hand, allows for the visualization of motion over time, enabling assessment of cardiac structures and function, as well as fetal heart rate.
High-frequency ultrasound refers to the use of ultrasound waves with frequencies greater than 10 MHz. This technology enables improved resolution, allowing for detailed imaging of superficial structures like skin, tendons, and small organs. High-frequency ultrasound has found applications in dermatology, ophthalmology, and musculoskeletal imaging.
Traditional 2D ultrasound has been augmented by the advent of 3D ultrasound technology. By acquiring multiple 2D images from different angles, this technique construct a volumetric representation of the imaged area. The addition of 4D ultrasound in real-time motion adds further value by capturing dynamic processes.
Doppler imaging employs the Doppler effect to evaluate blood flow within vessels and assess hemodynamics. Color Doppler assigns color to different blood flow velocities, providing a visual representation of blood flow direction and speed. Spectral Doppler displays blood flow velocities as a waveform, allowing for detailed analysis of flow patterns, resistance, and stenosis.
Contrast enhanced ultrasound employs microbubble contrast agents to enhance the visualization of blood flow and tissue perfusion. By injecting these agents intravenously, sonographers can differentiate between vascular structures and lesions. Elastography is a technique that measures tissue elasticity or stiffness. It assists in differentiating between normal and abnormal tissues, aiding in the diagnosis of various conditions such as liver fibrosis, breast lesions, and thyroid nodules.
Fusion imaging combines ultrasound with other imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET). By overlaying or merging ultrasound images with those obtained from other modalities, the user can precisely locate and characterize abnormalities, guide interventions, and improve diagnostic accuracy. Fusion imaging has proven particularly useful in areas such as interventional radiology, oncology, and urology.
See also Equipment Preparation, Environmental Protection, Handheld Ultrasound, Portable Ultrasound and Ultrasound Accessories and Supplies.

Peripheral veins are easily tested using a 5 to 10 MHz transducer. The venous walls are smooth, thin, and compressible. Venous ultrasound imaging requires the compression of the veins in the transverse view. If compression is performed in the longitudinal view, the vein may roll away from the transducer possibly creating a false-negative examination.
The lumen of the normal vein is echo free. Increasing the gain will display low level echoes representing venous blood moving towards the heart. When performing Doppler spectral analysis or color Doppler the gate should be placed in the center of the vessel. In case of a non-obstructing or recanalized thrombosis, the Doppler gate should be placed within the remaining vessel lumen for flow detection.

See also Maximum Venous Outflow and Zero Offset.

From GE Healthcare.;
'Vivid 7 Dimension, a premier cardiovascular ultrasound system from GE Healthcare, expands on the strength of a powerful imaging platform to offer new, innovative technology of dimensional proportions.'

From GE Healthcare.;
'The incredible Vivid i system establishes a completely new level of cardiovascular performance that gives clinicians the freedom to get diagnostic results outside of the echo lab.'

The zero crossing detector displays Doppler frequency shifts. The circuit detects the zero crossing frequency and generates an output which is proportional to the average frequency at the point where the crossing occurred.

See also Motion Discrimination Detector.