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New 3-dimensional ultrasound equipment at Mitchell County Regional Health Center will allow expecting parents a first glimpse of their child.

Expectant parents can add a new page to their child's first photo album, thanks to a new 3-Dimensional ultrasound unit capable of producing high-resolution scans of an unborn baby's face. The new equipment arrived at Mitchell County Regional Health Center on December 3, and will be put into use as early as December 10.

New digital equipment has revolutionized ultrasound technology, creating smoother, crisper images for a wide array of diagnostic studies. Sonograms send and receive sound waves through a transducer, in much the same way that sonar helps ships navigate at sea. The sound waves, recorded and displayed on screen as a real-time image, allow physicians to examine many of the body's internal organs, see blood flow and evaluate heart function. It also gives many parents a first clear picture of their unborn child, which can be saved to a compact disc. Technologists will eventually use the new equipment for a variety of exams, including OB/GYN, vascular, abdomen and small parts imaging.

"It produces a much better image for the radiologist to interpret," says Julie Brown, Radiology Supervisor at Mitchell County Regional Health Center.  The 3D capability "is like dessert," she adds. "It will be a lot of fun for parents to see their baby's face."

Registered ultrasound technician Carrie Sparrow is excited about the new equipment. "It's just an amazing machine," says Sparrow, who has eleven years of experience in ultrasound imaging. "We're really fortunate to have this state-of-the-art technology here."

Expectant mothers doctoring at other facilities can request to have ultrasounds performed at Mitchell County Regional Health Center.  A doctor's order is required for the ultrasound.  Patients can call the hospital radiology department to schedule an appointment.

Source: Mitchell County Regional Health Center

Discuss more about Ultrasound in our Ultrasound Group