Die Entwicklung der Ultraschalltechnik für die Diagnostik in der Geburtshilfe

The following contribution serves as an introduction to the history of ultrasonography and explains both the current technical methods and their application. First knowledge of the phenomenon of sonic waves can be traced back to ancient times. Its utilisation in medical diagnosis, however, did not start until the middle of the last century. In daily medical routine, one cannot today imagine life without the non-invasive method of ultrasonic diagnostics for the monitoring of regular and abnormal pregnancies. The method was already introduced into routine pregnancy observation in 1979. Technical innovation has remarkably improved image processing, accompanied by unprecedented progress in visualisation of the foetus, its placenta and the amnion membranes.