What is Ultrasound?

▪ Sound: Mechanical energy transmitted via

medium as wave

Compression Compression

Rarefaction

Alternating high and low pressure pulses

 What is Ultrasound?

▪ Frequencies above 20,000 Hz “ultrasound”

▪ Vacuum: No transmission
▪ Air: poor medium
▪ Medical Imaging: 2-20MHz
 How ultrasound works?
▪ Base: Detect and display acoustic energy
reflected from within the body
Image displayer

Detector

▪ Ultrasounds are reflected from substances of

different “acoustic impedance”
 How ultrasound works?
▪ Impedance: “Velocity of reflected sound X
density of substance”
▪ How many sound waves are reflected
How ultrasound works: Transducer
Medium Type Speed (m/s)

Air 330

Fat 1,450

Water 1,450

Soft Tissue 1,540

Bone 3,500

Metals up to 7,000
How ultrasound works: Transducer

▪ Transducer (detector) sends and

receives high frequency sound waves
 How ultrasound works: Transducer

▪ Piezoelectric material (Lead Zirconate Titanium)

▪ Vibrate @ Frequency of 1 to 10 MHz

▪ Linear transducers: 64-256 crystals

▪ Epoxy resin tungsten decreases duration but
increases resolution
▪ Triggered sequentially along the length or in
segments
▪ Sealed to avoid moisture
How ultrasound works: Transducer
 Transducer Types
Linear array Convex array

Sector
 How ultrasound works: Gel
▪ Transducer contact with structure
being examined

▪ Ultrasound gel or obstetric lube

Overview
 Sound Characteristics
Wave Characteristic Significance

✓ Frequency (f; Hz) Related to penetration of sound wave and

Reciprocal of time period image quality

❖ Wavelength (λ; mm)

✓ Time Period (T) Its time taken for one complete cycle of echo
to pass a given point ( Freq = T)
Amplitude (Pascals; MPa) Defines the strength of sound wave

✓ Power (Watts) Effective in therapeutic ultrasonography

✓ Intensity (I)

https://youtu.be/9VSHa1mKcTw
 Terminologies

▪ Frequency: no. of waves/second/unit area

Compression

Rarefaction

Wave length
▪ Wavelength: Distance encompassed by
compression and Rarefaction
 Terminologies
▪ Amplitude: Difference b/w peak of wave and
average value
▪ Power: Rate of energy transferred through
sound waves (P=E/t)
▪ Intensity: Rate of energy flow (Power) through
a unit area and determines the particle
vibration (I=P/A)

average

---T (sec)---

http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/wave-on-a-string/latest/wave-on-a-string_en.html
 Terminologies

▪ Relationship b/w Frequency and

Penetration of ultrasounds (Depth)

High frequency wave gets attenuated faster

 Terminologies

Relative size of the object of interest increases

at low frequency waves
 Terminologies

▪ Resolution (Axial/Lateral): Ability to distinguish

between two closely placed objects
 Terminologies
▪ Axial: Two closely placed objects located in
the direction of the beam
▪ Lateral: Perpendicular to beam

Lateral Resolution
 Terminologies
▪ Absorption: No reflected waves, loss of energy
▪ Refraction: Bending of sound waves when
passing through tissues of different acoustic
impedance

Medium 1

Medium 2
 Terminologies

▪ Reflection
▪ Specular
▪ Scatter/Diffused
 Image Interpretation

Not Dense Dense

 Images Interpretation

Amount of wave appearance

Substance
reflected on screen

Water None black

Soft tissue Some grey
Bone All White
Metal All White
Air All White
 Images Interpretation

▪Anechoic, Black: (Follicle, Amniotic vesicle, Bladder)

▪Hypoechoic, Grey: (CL, Liver, Uterus)
▪Hyperechoic, White: (bones, Air)
 Artefacts

▪ Shadowing: Caused by deviation in the beam

 Artefacts
▪ Signal enhancement: occurs when beam
pass through reflector free surface
 Artefacts
▪ Reverberations: Waves trapped between
two reflector surfaces until attenuated
 Image optimization

▪ Time gain compensations (TGC)

▪ Focusing points (Bean convergence)
▪ Depth adjustment
▪ Zoom
▪ Dynamic Range
 Overall Gain and TGC
Overall Gain

Liver surface +
TGC controls

-
-
 Focus

Improved Resolution
Poor Resolution

Liver Scan
 Depth Adjustment

Near Depth Far Depth

Zoom
Dynamic Range
 Types of Ultrasounds
▪ A-mode: (Amplitude), One dimensional, used
in ophthalmology
▪ B-mode: (Brightness), Two dimensional; Real
time B-mode: Frames are updated
continuously
▪ M-mode: Motion mode (use to measure
movement of moving organs)
▪ Doppler-mode: (detect sound), used to
determine the flow of the fluids in vessels,
combined with B-mode and A model and
color phase
▪ 3D-mode (Three-Dimensional Image)
Types of Ultrasounds
Types of Ultrasounds
 Applications in Veterinary

▪ Pregnancy Diagnosis
▪ Diagnosis Of Cysts And Uterine Infections
▪ Ovum Pick Up/Embryo Transfer
▪ Diagnosis Of Others Clinical Conditions e.g
Urinary Calculi
▪ Better Reproductive Management
▪ Research
 Applications in Veterinary

▪ Determining seasonal anestrus

▪ Estimation of Puberty Onset in female
▪ Monitoring of follicles for Dx and Rx
▪ Single vs. double ovulations
▪ Establishing time or failure of ovulation
▪ CL health and status
▪ Estimating estrous cycle stage
▪ Estimating extent of endometrial estrogen
exposure
 Applications in Veterinary

▪ Evaluating time and suitability of breeding

▪ Detection of semen in uterus
▪ Collection of oocyte
▪ Selection of ET recipient
▪ Detection of Early embryo development and
twins
▪ Fetal sex
▪ Fetal viability and prepartum position
▪ Uterine involution
▪ Precise estimate of embryonic death
 What is your Choice?

• High or low frequency ultrasound

• Linear array or Convex array
• B-mode or Doppler
• Battery back up or not
• Image storage or not