ULTRASOUND

Closa| Crucillo| De Leon| Dizon| Lampa| Mateo | Miranda|

Perey| Pincas | Salgado| Salmasan| Yee
OUTLINE
▪Introduction and Brief History
▪Review of Basic Physics
▪Ultrasound Machinery
– Parts & Usage
– Advantages & Disadvantages
 What is Ultrasound?
▪uses sound waves to create images of the human body
– via piezoelectric crystals at the probe that change shape very rapidly (vibrate) &
produce ultrasound waves creating images as they are reflected back

▪ sound is produced by the vibration of molecules within a medium, and

is characterized by frequency (Hertz, Hz)

base apex
How did it all begin?

Lazzaro Spallanzani, Paul Langevin, Karl Dussik, Brain

echolocation, bats hydrophone Tumor

1794 1915 1942

1877 1920s-1940s 1948

Pierre and Jacques Sonography as George D. Ludwig,

Currie, piezoelectricity Physical Theraphy gallstone
 Historical Timeline

Howry & Holmes, 2D Ian Donald, OB/GYN continuous wave, spectral

B-mode scanner wave & color Doppler

1949-1951 1958 1970s

1953 1966 1980s

Inge Edler & Hellmuth Baker, Watkins & Kazunori Baba,

Hertz, echocardiogram Reid, pulsed Doppler 3D of fetus
"
Where we are...
Handheld Devices: iphone’s
telesonography app, NASA
Lichtenstein, lung &
ultrasound in space
general sonography
@ICU

1989 2000 - Present

1990s

4D (realtime),
endoscopic ultrasounds
Physics 1.0
Frequency, Wavelength
and Intensity of Sound
● Sound is an energy that causes mechanical disturbance in
the form of vibration within a medium.
● The vibration spreads in longitudinal waves and in a parallel
direction.
Wavelength
● The distance between two adjacent bands of compression or
rarefaction.
● Symbol: Lambda ƛ
● Units: meters [m]
● Relationship: The longer the the wavelength the greater the
penetrability of ultrasound
Frequency
● The number of wavelengths that pass a given second.
● Symbol: f
● Units: Hertz [Hz]

● Ultrasound is the name given to high frequency of sound wave,

which is above human hearing range.
● Acoustic vibration of frequencies higher than 20 kHz.
● Human ear can only hear frequency in a range from 31 Hz to 19
kHz.
● Diagnostic ultrasound transducers emit ultrasound radiation with
frequency ranging from 1 to 10 MHz.

● Important for the resolution and depth of penetration in the patient.

Under the influence of high frequency, molecules vibrate more

rapidly and produce more heat in a viscous medium. The molecules
are not allowed as much as time to relax between cycles, and more
absorption results. Therefore, increasing frequency will increase
absorption. [Same concept applies in proportion in lower frequency]

High Frequency = Vibration= Heat= Excited Molecules = Greater Absorption

Results
Relationship test: True or False

The higher the frequency, the better the resolution but the lower the
penetration.

The wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency.

Period
● Definition: Time required for one complete cycle
● Symbol: T
● Units: Seconds

Relationship: Period and frequency are inversely proportional with each

other.

Velocity
● Definition: The speed at which the wave moves through the medium.
● Symbol: V
● Units: Meters per second

Note: Air transmit ultrasound with the lowest velocity and bone with the
highest velocity in biological material.
Wave equation
Diagnostic ultrasound relates the wavelengths, frequency and
velocity.
V= f ƛ
Density and Compressibility: Effects on Velocity

● Density
The more dense the material, the slower the velocity of the ultrasound.
Bones

● Compressibility
The more compress the material, the slower the velocity of the
ultrasound.
The most compressible materials are gases. Followed by liquid and solid
are the least.
Gas has slower velocity of the ultrasound.
Gas in G.I. Tract
Physics 2.0
Reflection and
Refraction
Longitudinal Waves
A method by which sound waves occur.
Basic Echo Principles

Reverse Piezoelectric Effect

Piezoelectric Effect
Reflection
▪Waves can be reflected at the boundery between two mediums
▪Causes echo when sound is reflected

▪Law of Reflection:
– Angle of Incidence is equal to 

Angle of Reflection
Thinking Question
In application of ultrasound machines, what is the factor being
measured using the Basic Echo Principles?

A. Depth of the Organ

B. Density of the Organ
C. Both A and B
D. None are correct
Answer to Question

A. Depth of an Organ
Echo range principle states that the farther the organ, the longer it
takes for an echo to return, therefore indicating the depth of the
organ.

The density of the organ is properly explained by REFRACTION

Refraction
▪Change in speed and direction

of a wave after passing two

different mediums

Important clinical notes:

▪ Density of material affects waves
– The denser the material, the slower

the waves will move
Thinking Question
In which part of the body will the sound waves from ultrasound
travel the FASTEST?

A. Liver
B. Bone
C. Blood
D. Stomach
Answer to Question

C. Blood
Blood has the least density which will
allow particles of sound waves to move
faster.
Index of Refraction (Refraction Index)
Speed of Light in vacuum
=
Refraction Index Velocity of light in certain

Medium

330 m/s = speed of sound in air (0.0004 Z)

4030 m/s = speed of sound in bone (7.8 Z)
1040 m/s = speed of sound in tissue

Acoustic Impedance = resistance of propagation of sound

measured in MegaRayls (Z)
 Snell’s Law
(Refraction Index in M1) x (Angle of incidence) = (Refraction index in M2) x (Angle of
Refraction)
Velocity in Medium 2 = Velocity in Medium 1

Angle of Refracted Ray Angle of Incident Ray

Amplitude and Energy Relationship

E = Total Energy 

k = Spring Constant 

A = Amplitude
Intensity, Energy and Amplitude Relationship
Intensity = Energy transported in a given
area
I = Intensity

P = Power

A = Area

P = Power
E = Energy
t = Time
 Transducer

▪Device which converts one form of

energy to another
▪An ultrasound transducer converts
electrical energy into sound energy,
and vice versa
▪ It contains piezoelectric crystals
which transmit the ultrasound beam
and receive the reflected echoes.
Transducer

▪act as both transmitter

and receiver of UTZ
▪able to produce
beams which can be
directed in various
ways to improve the
quality of the image
that we see on screen
Components and construction of a typical
transducer

▪Physical housing assembly

▪Piezoelectric elements
▪Backing materials
▪Acoustic lens
▪Impedance matching layer
Physical housing
▪contains all the individual
components including the
crystals, electrodes,
matching layer and backing
materials
▪ provides necessary
structural support
▪ acts as electrical and
acoustic insulator
 Piezoelectric elements
▪Transducer operate on the piezoelectric
effect which was discovered by Jacques
and Pierre Curie in 1880
▪ They found that certain crystalline minerals
when subjected to a mechanical force
became electrically polarized
▪If short electrical burst was applied to these
crystals, it would cause them to vibrate
▪ “piezoelectric” (Greek word: “piezein” which
means “to press or to squeeze”
▪Lead zirconate titanate (P2T)
 Backing materials
▪shortens the ultrasound pulse length
which improves axial resolution
▪short burst or pulse of electricity is
applied to a crystal, it causes it to vibrate
in all directions.
▪main vibrators come from the front and
back face of the piezoelectric crystal
▪a backing or damping material is used to
eliminate vibrations from the back face,
which typically consists of tungsten
powder and plastic or epoxy resin, is
attached to the back face
 Acoustic lens
▪to improve image resolution
by reducing the beam width
of the transducer
▪the width of the beam
determines the lateral
resolution
▪ lateral resolution is the ability
to resolve structures across
or perpendicular to the beam
axis
Impedance matching layers

▪is a sandwich between the

piezoelectric crystal and the patient
and is an important factor that affects
the sensitivity of the transducer
Types of Electronic Array Transducers
▪Linear Array Transducers
▪Curvilinear (or sector) Array Transducers
▪Phased Array Transducers
 Linear Array Transducers
▪ 128-256 elements in a row
▪ produces parallel lines
▪width of this image is equal
to the length of the transducer head
▪ frequencies above 4MHz
▪ used to image superficial structures and vessels
Curvilinear Array Transducers
▪convex in shape
▪referred to as sector arrays
▪lower frequencies around 3.5MHz
▪abdominal and obstetric scanning
Phased Array Transducers
▪ flat faced transducer
▪ the beam is steered to produce an image
▪ wide field of view similar to those curvilinear
transducers
▪ physically smaller than their counterpart
▪ cardiac and cranial ultrasound
ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
▪Can detect lesions in women with dense breasts when
mammograms cannot.
▪Can help identify the nature of a lesion that is unclear from a
mammogram.
▪Widely available and less expensive than mammogram.
▪ The only way to tell the difference between a cyst and a solid
mass without using a needle to draw out fluid (non-invasive)
ADVANTAGES
▪Patients are never exposed to radiation during an
ultrasound, allowing pregnant woman to use this
imaging technique.
▪Can use ultrasound to detect blood flow through
vessels.
▪Most ultrasound exams are quick and painless.
▪Ultrasounds do not cause any health problems and
there are no known harmful effects to humans.
DISADVANTAGES
▪ Ultrasound results may identify a potential area of concern
that is not malignant. These false-positive results could lead to
more procedures, including biopsies, that are not necessary.
▪ Although often used in an attempt to prevent an invasive
measure for diagnosis, sometimes it is unable to determine
whether or not a mass is malignant and a biopsy will be
recommended.
▪Many cancers cannot be detected via an ultrasound.
DISADVANTAGES
▪Calcifications that are visible on mammograms are not
visible on ultrasound scans, thereby preventing early
diagnosis of the portion of breasts that begin with
calcifications.
▪Ultrasounds are not available everywhere, and not all
insurance plans cover them.
▪An ultrasound requires a highly experienced and
skilled operator to detect malignant lump, as well as
good equipment.
https://www.cancerquest.org/patients/detection-and-diagnosis/ultrasound?
fbclid=IwAR2MjlzHZ9ODjLVUL8hu0B5fheaw23Nus9vbJQIOdKxNinVQ-ZrNNwkQBVI
Current Status
▪High-level overview of progress against schedule.
– On-track in what areas
– Behind in what areas
– Ahead in what areas

▪ Unexpected delays or issues.

Related Documents
▪Marketing plan
– Location or contact name/phone

▪Budget
– Location or contact name/phone

▪ Post-mortem
– Location or contact name/phone

▪Submit questions
– Location or contact name/phone
PARTS AND HOW TO USE
AN ULTRASOUND
MACHINE
Parts of an Ultrasound machine.
 Transducer Probe
▪ The ultrasonographer uses the
transducer pulse controls to set and
change the frequency and duration
of the ultrasound pulses.
▪ The transducer pulse control allows
the scanning of the mode of the
machine.
▪ The operator’s commands are
luctuating electrical currents that are
applied to the piezoelectric (PZ)
crystals in the transducer probe.
 Parts of an Ultrasound Probe
Crystal / ceramic element with
piezoelectric (PZ) properties
a. Usually lead zirconate titanate (PZT)
b. May consist of single element or a
broadband transducer with multiple
elements.
c. Element thickness is determined by
what resonance frequency is desired.
i. A thicker element produces a lower
frequency oscillation while a thinner
element produces a higher frequency
oscillation
 Parts of an Ultrasound Probe
Positive and Ground Electrodes on the
Faces of the Element.
a. This allows electrical connection.
b. Positive electrode is in the back of the
element.
c. Ground electrode is on the front of the
element.
 Parts of an Ultrasound Probe
Damping/ Blocking Block
a. Adhered to the back of the crystal
(behind the positive electrode)
b. Absorbs ultrasound energy directed
backwards and attenuates stray
ultrasound signals from the housing.
c. Dampens the resonant vibrations in the
element which creates a shorter spatial
pulse length.
i. Better axial resolution but higher
bandwidth.
 Parts of an Ultrasound Probe
Matching Layer
a. The interface between the transducer
element and the tissue.
b. Allows close to 100% transmission of
the ultrasound from the element into
the tissue by minimizing reflection due
to transersing different mediums.
c. This is achieved by including layers of
material with acoustic impedances that
are between soft tissue and transducer
material.
 Parts of an Ultrasound Probe
Housing
a. Electrical insulation and protection of
the element.
b. Includes a plastic case, metal shield
and acoustic insulator.
Different types of ultrasound probes
 Central Processing Unit (CPU)
▪ This contains the microprocessor, memory,
amplifiers and power supplies for the
microprocessor and transducer probe.
▪ The CPU does all the calculations to
produce an image on the monitor.
▪ It lso stores the image.
 Display
▪ Displays the image from the
ultrasound data from the CPU.
▪ Can either be black-and-white or
colored, depending on the model of
the ultrasound machine.
▪ Some displays are now
touchscreens.
 Keyboard / Cursor
▪ The keyboard allows the operator to
add notes and take measurements
of the image.
Storage Device and Printer
▪ The processed data and/or
images can be stored on
CDs.

▪ Most ultrasound machines

have thermal printers.
▪ These are used to capture a
printed picture of the image
from the monitor.