4D ultrasound adds the element of time to three-dimensional imaging, producing a continuous live video rather than a still 3D picture. This allows sonographers and physicians to watch real-time movements, such as a baby yawning, kicking, or swallowing in the womb. The technology is especially popular in prenatal imaging because it gives expecting parents a lifelike view of their baby. Clinically, it also helps doctors observe heart valve motion, blood flow patterns, and other dynamic processes that benefit from real-time 3D visualization.
Sonography Term