Ultrasound is an excellent option to get real-time imaging to treat patients. Besides, it is an excellent machinery to carry it from one location to another easily. Clinicians prefer ultrasounds for critical care, emergency treatment, Radiology labs, diagnostic centers and others. The machine is mainly popular because it is easy to use and cost-effective to get real-time imaging.

The key part of the machine is the transducers. As the machine is becoming popular among medical practitioners, it is necessary to know all about transducers, types and how it works.

The History of Transducers Development for Ultrasound

Ultrasound transducer development involves interesting experiments with bats. In the 1700s, an Italian priest and psychologist Lazzaro Spallanzani tried to explain bats’ ability to navigate in dark rooms while blinding them with red hot needles.

However, the same bats faced difficulty to navigate when their mouth was covered. Later two Harvard students Donald Griffin and Robert Galambos, determined that bats used directional ultrasound noises while flying.

The major development of ultrasound transducers and the complete device was seen during the 1900s. In 1917, Reginald Aubrey Fessenden first designed a working SONAR system in the USA to detect icebergs. Later, in 1942, Karl Theodore Dussik invented a machine to detect brain tumors using ultrasound waves.

A Brief About Ultrasound Transducers?

Ultrasound transducers are the main machinery. It helps the clinician to visualize in real-time the patients’ anatomy. A transducer converts electrical energy into mechanical energy or sound. The sound wave produced through it goes through the patients’ skin and reflects back to generate images of the organs.

When the transducer collects reflected sound off the patients’ organs, it converts them into electrical energy to generate the images. To get real-time images, connect the transducer with the ultrasound machine. The clinician, then, places the transducer on the patient to get real-time images. Transducers come with detachable cords. It needs to be connected to the ultrasound machine to use it as required.

The development of modern ultrasound machines and transducers along with it, is still going on. Researchers and developers are trying to innovate its design and improve its effectiveness.

What Transducers Are Made of?

An ultrasound transducer is made of plastic, metal is also used in housing which helps to protect the electrical components inside.

Types of Transducers Used in Ultrasound

There are mainly three types of transducers – convex/curvilinear, linear and phased/sector transducers. There are also different types of speciality transducers which include endocavity, continuous wave (CW)/pencil, transesophageal, and volume transducers.

The best research ultrasound system in the market helps in generating excellent imaging of the patient’s anatomy.

Main Types of Transducers

Let’s see the main types of ultrasound transducers used in general.

Convex/curvilinear Ultrasound Transducers

It is a curved transducer that offers a wider image of a patient’s anatomy. It is curved in shape which helps to determine the sector width and the shape of the image. You may have seen convex transducers as it is commonly used to develop images of abdomen, gynecology, and also in some musculoskeletal imaging.

Linear/sector Ultrasound Transducers

It is a straight transducer in shape. The device is most frequently used to get detailed resolution and excellent depth of the image. A linear ultrasound transducer is often used to get images of musculoskeletal, and small body parts, and is widely applied in the treatment of children.

Phased Ultrasound Transducers

To generate high temporal resolution and penetration, this type of transducers are used. With phased ultrasound transducers, clinicians can generate images of moving organs in real-time. Clinicians use this type of transducers in pediatrics, transcranial, cardiac diagnosis and many others.

Special Transducers

Endocavity Transducers

This transducer is used in getting images from inside the human body. Endocavity transducers allow to generate better images of organs which might be difficult to get with a surface transducer. The device is most commonly used in gynecology, urology and others.

Volume Ultrasound Transducer

This is a unique type of transducer that helps to generate 3D or 4D images. When clinicians try to get more detailed imaging of organs with realistic images, a volume ultrasound transducer is used. Clinicians use it mainly for gynaecology applications.

Transesophageal Echo Transducers

It is designed to generate images of the heart by inserting it into the esophagus. The transducer works excellently to generate images of the heart that could not have been generated through a transthoracic echo. Through this transducer the clinicians can generate a sector shape view of the heart, unobstructed by the lungs and ribs.

Pencil Ultrasound or Continuous Wave Transducers 

The circular-shaped tip of the transducer is not used to generate images of organs. Rather, clinicians use it to see waveforms and analyses blood flow. To treat cardiac, vascular to transcranial complications, this type of transducers are used.

Conclusion

Ultrasound transducers are a key part of ultrasound machines. It converts electrical energy to mechanical energy or sound to create high resolution images of organs. Modern transducers come in different shapes and sizes and are used for different purposes. Clinicians use them as per their specific needs.

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