[UK-CONTEST] Ultrasound beware!

[Clive Whelan]

I had to have an ( routine) ultrasound scan today. Just as small talk 
really, I mentioned to the operator that ultrasound used to be called 
ultrasonics when I used it to clean apparatus in my chemistry 
laboratory. Even though he was fortyish, he didn't seem to know this 
which made me feel really old! So I asked, if the frequency was 
obviously above 20kHz, what was the actual frequency? I was really 
shocked when he told me he was currently using 3.85Mhz. This was looking 
at my kidneys and bladder, but apparently when doing finer investigation 
( whatever that means) they use 8Mhz and occasionally 16Mhz. Why 
therefore it isn't called RF radiography, or similar words, I really 
don't know.

I guess it's unlikely that any of us live near enough to a radiography 
department for this to be a concern, but it's worth bearing in mind, and 
definitely don't take your FT817 along to a scan ;-)

73


Clive
GW3NJW