Scientifically based safety criteria for ultrasonography

Abstract

One of the major contributions of E. L. Carstensen to medical ultrasonography lies in the research studies by him and his colleagues on biophysical mechanisms for biological effects. These studies have done much to provide a basis for predicting conditions under which ultrasound will affect living systems. The scientific information that now exists makes possible an improved approach to decisions on safety for diagnostic ultrasonography. In particular, estimates of the maximum temperature produced in a sonographic examination provide an index that can be used to ensure safety from thermal hazards.