Sonography Physics & Instrumentation Quiz

Sonography Physics & Instrumentation

• The course code is BMIS-LHR A
• The course covers ultrasound transducers, piezoelectric effect, and natural/synthetic crystals.
• A transducer converts one form of energy into another.
• Examples of transducers include: loudspeakers (electrical to sound), microphones (sound to electrical), light bulbs (electrical to light/heat).
• Ultrasound transducers use the piezoelectric effect to convert electrical energy to ultrasound, and vice versa.
• Modern transducers are multi-element arrays (or crystals).
• Different types of ultrasound transducer probes exist (convex, linear, phased array, micro-convex, T-type linear, biplanar, endocavitary, linear, intrarectal).

Objectives of the Lecture

• The objectives of the lecture include understanding ultrasound transducers.
• Understanding the piezoelectric effect is crucial.
• Knowing about natural and synthetic crystals is important.

Piezoelectric Effect

• It's the cornerstone of diagnostic ultrasound.
• All ultrasound transducers have piezoelectric properties.
• This allows them to generate and detect ultrasound waves.
• The piezoelectric effect consists of two types, direct and reverse.

Direct Piezoelectric Effect

• The formation of an electrical charge on crystal surfaces when pressure is applied.
• In pulse-echo imaging, this effect occurs on reception when echoes return and are converted to electrical signals.

Indirect (Reverse) Piezoelectric Effect

• Crystal deformation (rapid contraction and expansion) occurs in response to an applied electric voltage.
• This causes high-frequency mechanical pressure waves through coupled tissue (with gel).

Modern Transducers

• Consisting of multiple small piezoelectric crystal elements arranged in an electronic array.
• Modern transducers differ from older, single-crystal models.

Crystalline Materials

• Piezoelectric crystals have dipolar molecules aligned within the crystal structure.
• Dipoles have a positive and negative charge at opposite ends.
• Positive and negative ends are organized in a lattice; changes in applied electrical signals cause them to realign, resulting in slight physical changes in crystal thickness.
• Natural crystals, such as quartz, were the first ultrasound crystals.
• Today's crystals are typically grown synthetically in a manufacturing environment using lead, barium, titanate, and zirconate; synthetic crystals are also referred to as ceramic crystals.
• A common example today is PZT (lead zirconate titanate)).

Echo Reception

• Echoes hitting the crystal surface result in physical crystal deformation.
• This alters the resting orientations of tiny dipoles within the crystal, which induces signals between crystal electrodes.
• Amplified signals are processed and displayed as screen dots to present received echoes.
• Stronger echoes produce stronger electrical signals

Other Information

• Polymer materials are another type of transducer material.
• Obtaining details about new transducer crystals is presently challenging due to proprietary information considerations.

Learning Outcomes

• Upon completing the lecture, students will understand ultrasound transducers
• Understand energy conversion in devices (e.g., light bulbs, microphones, loudspeakers).
• Be able to describe the piezoelectric effect (including direct and reverse types)

Test your knowledge on ultrasound transducers, the piezoelectric effect, and the types of transducer probes. This quiz covers essential concepts that are fundamental to diagnostic sonography. Perfect for students in the BMIS-LHR A course.