[Technical aspects of ultrasound equipment today and tomorrow]

From the very beginning any progress in the technique of instruments used in sonography has been strongly dependent upon the general technical progress, and any such progress must take place within the physically postulated marginal conditions. Now that the image quality has been considerably improved, the present situation is characterised by the fact that sonographic diagnosis is developing from a qualitative method into a quantitative one. This will be made possible by means of computerised tissue differentiation which is already being utilised in practice by means of trend analyses, by new sonography parameters (multiparameter imaging) and by the use of digital reconstruction methods. Another substantial improvement in the technique of instruments will be brought about mainly by the extremely rapid strides made by digital technique, by further development of the weak point represented by the transducers, and by improved possibilities of display.