Bladder Ultrasound

The bladder is a muscular, flexible bag-shaped organ located in the lower abdomen. It is the organ where the urine is stored after it is made in the kidneys, allowing the urination to be infrequent and controlled until the person goes to the bathroom. 

Just like any other organ, the bladder can be touched by pathological conditions that affect its structure or function. In that case, a urologist visit is preferred and usually mandatory, as some of these pathologies may be severe. 

Some of the bladder problems identified by urologists are: 

• Cystitis is an infectious condition of the bladder that causes chronic pain, discomfort, or urinary frequency, or hesitancy.
• Urinary stones that are formed in the kidney, and move to the bladder, which blocks the urine flow to or from the bladder
• Bladder cancer is usually discovered after blood is found in the urine. 
• Urinary incontinence is chronic uncontrolled urination.
• Overactive bladder where the bladder muscle squeezes uncontrollably, causing some urine to leak out.
• Hematuria where blood can be found in the urine. Sometimes, Hematuria is harmless, other times it can be caused by either an infection or a more serious condition such as bladder cancer.
• Urinary retention: Urine does not exit the bladder normally due to a blockage or suppressed bladder muscle activity. The bladder may swell to hold more than a quart of urine.
• Bed-wetting (nocturnal enuresis) where a child age 5 or older who wets the bed at least one or two times a week over at least 3 consecutive months.
• Dysuria is pain or discomfort during urination that can be caused by infection, irritation, or inflammation of the bladder, urethra, or external genitals.

Which ultrasound scanner is the most suitable for urologists?

For quick, accurate, and safe bladder exams, the urologist may need to use different types of probes; a convex one for the transabdominal ultrasound and a transvaginal one for the transrectal ultrasound. That is why a double-headed ultrasound scanner such as the Convex and Transvaginal Color Doppler Double Head WiFi Ultrasound Scanner CTC-3.1 or the Wireless 4D Bladder Ultrasound Scanner B-4D FDA 

Both of the devices mentioned above are suitable for bladder ultrasound. 

The convex probe of the CTC-3.1 has a 3.5 to 5mhz frequency. It can go deep from 100 to 200mm to monitor, exam, and diagnose the internal organs of the body in-depth examinations of the internal parts of the body such as the bladder. Also, the transvaginal probe provides detailed images of the organs inside the pelvic region, including the bladder. Together with that, the colored images produced by the CTC-3. make visualizing any type of tumor, infection, or bladder stone a painless, efficient non-invasive procedure that allows doctors to better assess bladder problems.

Indeed, the CTC-3.1 is more practical and more affordable than buying two different single-headed probes.

However, some more complicated conditions and procedures require a probe that is specifically designed for the bladder like the B-4D that measures the urine that remains in the bladder after urinating (post-void residual). This helps urologists identify problems such as enlarged prostate, urethral stricture (narrowing), or bladder dysfunction.

In fact, this device is a medical revolution for urologist doctors, for it has a measuring range: 10ml ~ 2000ml and 4D array scan that provides clearer images and more accurate measurements.

During the ultrasound test, high-frequency sound waves are transmitted into the bladder area to produce images of the bladder before and after urinating. When using either the CTC-3.1 or the  B-4D, these images are transmitted via WiFi to the physician’s smartphone or tablet, making it easier to zoom in the images and point out any problem for their patient. 

References: 
The Bladder (Human Anatomy)