Who invented the first ultrasound machine?

Dr. Ian Donald invented the first ultrasound machine in 1957 and tested it on patients a year later. The discovery was made in Glasgow, Scotland, and by the end of the 1950s ultrasounds became routine in Glasgow hospitals.

Ian Donald was inspired to use ultrasounds in the OB/GYN field after seeing it used for discovering flaws in metallurgy in the shipyards in Glasgow. An ultrasound image is used to confirm pregnancies, identifying the sex of the baby, and detecting a range of fetal abnormalities such as spinal problems, the absence of kidneys, and more. One of the main advantages of ultrasounds is the fact that they are non-invasive.