One fascinating piece of technology that utilizes the doppler effect is called the pulse-doppler radar. This piece of technology has many uses including motion detection (McFadden, 2020). In a pulse-doppler radar, a wave is sent out to the surrounding environment (McFadden, 2020). Objects within the environment are hit by the wave (MATLAB, 2022). The radar then waits for the signal to be sent back (MATLAB, 2022). Once the wave returns, it can give a good idea of what the surrounding environment looks like. This type of radar has many differing uses. Recently, however, researchers are realizing its use in healthcare. Tripping and falling has become a very large concern for the elderly population. For these individuals, fall detection should be prioritized. The doppler-radar can be used to sense falls in a given environment (Hanifi & Karsligil, 2021). If falls can be detected, help can be sent to the person in need. Personally, I have a relative who is older in age and lives alone. Through this technology using the doppler effect, falls could be detected at a much-improved rate. Additionally, In my future endeavors, I want to go into the field of physical therapy. This would require working with a variety of people who may be older in age. Suggesting the use of technology to detect and prevent injuries/falls would be of great importance. A more in depth explanation of the pulse-doppler radar can found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtyU6aKZ-cY

Another procedure that utilizes the doppler effect is the echocardiogram. A doppler echocardiogram is basically an ultrasound of the heart. During this procedure, an ultrasound machine sends waves towards the heart (“Echocardiogram”, 2023). Afterwards, the blood vessels bounce the waves back towards the machine (“Echocardiogram”, 2023). This helps clinicians get a good idea of the functioning of the heart. There are many types of echocardiograms. One specific kind of echocardiogram is a stress echocardiogram (“Echocardiogram”, 2023). This echocardiogram looks at how well the heart can respond to exercise. In terms of relatability, I love to exercise. In wanting to become a physical therapist, one should encourage physical activity. However, it is important to know that some individuals may have some issues that prevent physical activity. It is important to realize that exercise presents some level of risk for individuals. Echocardiograms can help determine heart function along with exercising capabilities. Therefore, the results of this test are important to consider when encouraging exercise. I have linked an example of someone being given an echocardiogram here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rthBw0ZwQM. Finally, for more information on Echocardiograms, I have attached an article for viewing. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/16947-echocardiogram

Works Cited:

Echocardiogram. (2022, May 9). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/16947-echocardiogram 

Echocardiogram. (2023, January 31). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/echocardiogram/about/pac-20393856 

Hanifi, K, & Karsligil, M.E. (2021). Elderly Fall Detection with Vital Signs Monitoring Using CW Doppler Radar. IEEE Sensors Journal, 21(15), 16969-16978. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2021.3079835 

MATLAB (2022, July 12). Pulse-Doppler Radar Understanding Radar Principles [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtyU6aKZ-cY&t=49s

McFadden, C. (2020, October 11). What is the Doppler Effect and How is it Used in Real Life? Interesting Engineering. https://interestingengineering.com/science/what-is-the-doppler-effect-and-how-is-it-used-in-real-life

National Heart Centre Singapore. (2021, December 1). Stress Echocardiogram [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rthBw0ZwQM 

Though the doppler effect is used in many technological applications, a very common example of technology that uses the doppler effect is 911 sirens. Police and ambulances use sirens to notify emergency and as the vehicle approaches, the sound appears high pitched. When the vehicle has passed the observer, the sound appears low pitched. As the vehicle is approaching the observer, the distance between the observer and the vehicle is decreasing continuously. This causes the sound waves to reach the observer quicker, triggering a ‘higher’ pitch since the frequency of each wave is reaching the observer faster than if the source were static (Ashish, 2022). Whereas, when the vehicle is receding, the distance grows between the observer and the siren which decreases the wave frequency of the sound from the siren which is why the observer hears a ‘low’ pitched siren (Ashish, 2020). This siren frequency is extremely important for community safety as drivers on the roads can determine if the emergency vehicle is approaching or receding themselves so if the driver needs to, they can pull over to allow the emergency vehicle to continue ahead. These sirens have played an important role in saving lives including my father’s life in 2019. Due to a major heart attack, my father needed an ambulance which went code red to the hospital, which means sirens on and full speed. Other drivers on the road were able to pull over way ahead of the speeding ambulance due to the ‘high’ pitch from the doppler effect or increased wave frequency produced by the siren. The ‘high’ pitch lets drivers know that the siren is approaching them so they can pull over ahead of the time the ambulance passes the driver. 

The doppler effect is also used in medical imaging. One of the more common types of medical imaging is ultrasound. A doppler ultrasound uses sound waves which are reflected from moving sources, for example red blood cells (Fletcher, 2019). The importance of a doppler ultrasound is to read blood flow of the patients(Fletcher, 2019). A human body has arteries and veins that run in a system all around the body and center back to the heart and doppler ultrasounds use the frequency of sound waves from the arteries and veins to determine blood flow. The handheld doppler ultrasound is a device that emits sound waves which reflect off of moving red blood cells. This reflection resembles an image on the ultrasound screen which determines the quality of blood flow(Fletcher, 2019). This is important in life and can be used in many cases including pregnancy, heart conditions, and anxiety. When my father had his heart attack, the surgeons on his case used a doppler ultrasound on his heart to determine which area had the blocked arteries and were not supplying enough blood flow to his heart. Without the doppler ultrasound, the surgeons might have not been able to locate the blocked artery in time to save my father’s life. 

Fletcher, J. (2019, October 28). Doppler ultrasound: Uses, what to expect, and results. Medical News Today. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326824 

Ashish. (2022, March 24). Why does an ambulance siren sound different as it passes by? Science ABC. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/ambulance-police-siren-sound-different-passes.html

YouTube. (2021, October 26). What is Doppler effect? ambulance siren and police radar gun. YouTube. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gytA8PuGQo4

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There are different kinds of ultrasounds that can be used to determine the velocity, resistance, and pulscisity (Ultrasound Physics)

  I did not realize but the Doppler effect applies to important everyday phenomenons. Particularly in the medical world the doppler ultrasound is a test that can estimate the blood flow through your blood vessels by bouncing  ultrasound waves off circulating red blood cells. This ultrasound differs from a regular ultrasound since it shows blood flow. This is a very important test since it can detect injuries and monitor specific treatments to veins and arteries. (Mayoclinic) Sirens from fire trucks and or ambulances is another common example that most people would recognize. Whether you are driving and are in your car or walking when the siren is coming towards you the pitch is higher and when it’s going past the pitch is lower and is due to the Doppler effect. (The Doppler Effect) This is very important as the Doppler effect helps save lives essentially since it signals drivers to slow down and pull to the right side of the road so that the first responders can get through. 

“The Doppler Effect.” Uconn.edu, 2020, www.phys.uconn.edu/~gibson/Notes/Section6_3/Sec6_3.htm.

Mayo Clinic. “Doppler Ultrasound: What Is It Used For?” Mayo Clinic, 2016, www.mayoclinic.org/doppler-ultrasound/expert-answers/faq-20058452.

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Ultrasound Physics - Explaining Doppler. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://youtu.be/9nzkF0hmy04

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