Bladder Scanners
How Do They Work?

Bladder Scanners: How Do They Work?


A bladder scanner is essential to a medical office for the prevention and diagnosis of urinary tract diseases, especially those associated with catheter use. By having a bladder scanner available, more costly and invasive procedures can be avoided — but how do bladder scanners work and what conditions can they detect?



What Is a Bladder Scanner and How Does It Work?

This hand-held and portable ultrasound device uses a transducer and an ultrasound probe, using sound waves to gather data. The integrated computer analyzes the data and generates a scan, as well as numeric information about bladder volume and other key indicators.

The procedure is painless for the patient and takes only a few minutes. The device is easy to use and can be operated by anyone, not requiring a sonographer to interpret the results. Bladder scan preparation is as simple as any other ultrasound examination, making this device one of the first tools to use when diagnosing common bladder conditions.
Ultrasound waves are safe sounds beyond the range of human hearing. They are commonly used to examine babies in the womb and identify problems without the use of x-rays or exploratory surgery. This non-invasive technology is one of the safest forms of diagnostic imaging.

How Are Bladder Scan Images Created?

As the harmless sound waves travel through tissues, the variations in density reflect the waves back at different intensities. These echoes are translated into grayscale pictures that show the state of the organs inside.

High-density tissues will show up as bright white, while low-density fluids and tissues will be almost black. These images may not show all structures, such as hard kidney stones, but they offer a safe and painless look into the inner workings of the urinary system and can shed light on a variety of medical conditions.

What Is a Bladder Scan Able to Diagnose?
Bladder scans are an important diagnostic tool in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of:

  • Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
  • Post-operative urinary retention (POUR)
  • Post-operative bladder distention
  • Frequent urination
  • Bladder irritability
  • Urine retention (incomplete voiding of urine)
  • Blocked Foley catheter
  • Biofeedback in bladder training

Seeing the Invisible Signs of Renal Disease Early
Family doctors, urologists, and home care nurses can make use of a bladder scanner in daily practice to protect the urinary tract health of all of their patients. Knowing that a patient is retaining urine can prevent damage to kidneys and other renal structures before it occurs. Bladder scanners offer preventative benefits in the long term by identifying problems early.

During treatment, the portable ultrasound device can track progress and provide valuable information about the effectiveness of the current treatment plan. The 3D images of the bladder are also key parts of the patient’s medical record and offer a baseline when treating a progressive disease.

Medical Device Depot offers bladder scanners from all top manufacturers for professionals in all branches of health care. With brands like Interson, MDPro, and Infinium available, no matter what your specialty, we have the right diagnostic tools to take your practice to the next level. Call us at 877-646-3300 to discuss the right equipment for your patient care needs.