From the Research
Insonation refers to the process of exposing or treating something with ultrasound waves, which involves subjecting it to high-frequency sound waves for medical or industrial purposes. In medical contexts, insonation is commonly used in diagnostic ultrasound imaging, such as during an abdominal ultrasound, where the abdomen is insonated with sound waves to produce images of internal organs 1.
Insonation can also be used in therapeutic applications, such as physiotherapy, surgical instruments, chemotherapy, drug delivery, and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) 2. The effectiveness of insonation depends on factors like frequency, intensity, and duration of the ultrasound waves, with higher frequencies generally providing better resolution in imaging, while lower frequencies can penetrate deeper into tissues or materials.
The process of insonation works by creating rapid pressure changes in the medium it passes through, which can cause various effects depending on the application, such as bouncing off tissues and being detected to form images in medical imaging, or creating cavitation bubbles that implode, generating localized high temperatures and pressures useful for various industrial processes 3, 4.
Some studies have investigated the biophysical effects of therapeutic ultrasound, but the evidence is limited, and more research is needed to fully understand its effects 5. However, insonation has been proposed to be included in the medical school curriculum, both for education and bedside physical examination, and its use has been explored in various medical applications, including the treatment of malignant glioma cells 1, 4.
Overall, insonation is a valuable tool in both medical and industrial contexts, and its applications continue to expand as research and technology advance. The use of insonation should be based on the latest evidence and guidelines, and its effectiveness and safety should be carefully evaluated in each specific context.