Ultrasound history timeline

Ultrasound history timeline

~500 BC

Pythagoras described the mathematical properties of stringed instruments marking the beinning of the science of acoustics.

1794

Bat's navigation by 'inaudible sound', also known as echolocation, was documented by Lazzaro Spallanzani.

1880

The Piezoelectric effect was discovered by Jacques and Pierre Curie.

1912

The Titanic sank, urging a drive to develop technology to discover underwater icebergs.

1917

First attempts to detect submarines using ultrasound by Paul Langevin.

1942

Neurologist Karl Dussik uses ultrasound for the first time to find brain tumours.

1953

Inge Edler and Helmut Hertz produced the first ultrasound images of the heart in Lund, Sweden.

1970

An electronic patient simulator called Jenny is produced by PhD-candidate and physician Alf Brubakk and technologist Rune Aslid, with support from Professor Jens Glad Balchen (NTNU).

1973

The start of the development of PEDOF (Pulsed Echo Doppler Flowmeter). This is part of Bjørn Angelsen's PhD at teh Department for Technical Cybernetics. PEDOF measures the speed of the bloodstream in the heart and in larger bloodvessels.

1974

Use of Bernoulli-equation to estimate the fall in pressure over a stenosed valve from the speed in the stenosis using experimental equipment.

1975

SINTEF awarded a loan of NOK 120 000 to build 10 prototypes of PEDOF to use in the clinic. 

1976

  • PEDOF prototype produced. 
  • 5 students hired to assemble PEDOF, which were sold for about NOK 30 000 per instrument.
  • Liv Hatle started using PEDOF to examine hearts. 
  • Doppler-ultrasound developed by Bjørn Angelsen. 

1977

Vingmed AS got involved.

1978

PEDOF used to measure arterial bloodstream in foetuses by Sturla Eik-Nes.

1979

DAISY produced.

1981

PEDOF is replaced by ALFRED.

1983

Book: "Doppler Ultrasound in Cardiology – Physical Principles and Clinical Applications", Lea&Febiger, Philadelphia, by Bjørn Angelsen and Liv Hatle.

1986

First version of CFM-700 exhibited at the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Atlanta. 

1988

First blood transfusion to a foetus in the womb - assisted by ultrasound. (Video

1990

  • CFM-750 introduced.
  • Founding of the National Centre for Foetal Medicine (Nasjonalt senter for fostermedisin - NSFM)

1993

World's first 3D-ultrasound lab is opened at St. Olavs Hospital, financed by GE Vingmed.

1996

3D ultrasound for brain tumours developed - a cooperation between neurosurgeon Geirmund Unsgård at St. Olavs Hospital and technologists at NTNU.

1997

NSFM became a WHO centre.

1998

GE Vingmed bought by GE Healthcare.

2009

VScan launched (pocket-sized ultrasound) - one of the most important inventions of the year, according to Time Magazine.

2015

The SFI Centre for Innovative Ultrasound Solutions (CIUS) founded

Spotlight on Norwegian ultrasound industry

Spotlight on Norwegian ultrasound industry

Our partner. Exact Therapeutics AS, together with Innovation Norway, Norway Health Tech and Investinor AS, is publishing a series on "The global reach of Norwegian ultrasound innovation".

The stories are published at The Explorer

If you have a story to share, please contact Masha Strømme: Masha@exact-tx.com.

From cold icebergs to warm hearts - museum exhibition

From cold icebergs to warm hearts - museum exhibition

The Medical Museum at NTNU/St. Olavs hospital had an exhibition on the history of the ultrasound research in Trondheim in 2014-2015.

A digital version of the exhibition can be viewed here (in Norwegian):

Fra kalde isfjell til varme hjerter

Illustration of iceberg and ship
Photo: iStockPhoto