FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY

Sonography

submitted by

Muhammed Hesham Muhammed Maamoun

2001209

presented to

Dr.Salwa Eltaweel
 CONTENTS

FIGURES .........................................................................................................................ii
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1
1.BASIC SOUND............................................................................................................. 1
2.SOUND SOURCE ........................................................................................................ 2
3.WAVES ........................................................................................................................ 3
3.1. The imaging characteristics of diagnostic ultrasound ........................................... 4
3.1.1. Propagation velocity ....................................................................................... 4
3.1.2. Attenuation ..................................................................................................... 5
4.SONOGRAPHY APPLICATIONS................................................................................. 5
CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................................................. 6
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 7

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 FIGURES

Figure 1 Longitudinal Wave............................................................................................. 2

Figure 2 Longitudinal Particle Motion .............................................................................. 2
Figure 3 The Ultrasound Transducer............................................................................... 3
Figure 4 Constructive Interference .................................................................................. 3
Figure 5 Destructive Interference .................................................................................... 3
Figure 6 Speed of Ultrasound in Different Materials ........................................................ 5

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 INTRODUCTION
In physics the term “ultrasound” applies to all acoustic energy with a frequency above
human hearing (20,000 hertz or 20 kilohertz). Typical diagnostic sonographic scanners
operate in the frequency range of 2 to 18 megahertz, hundreds of times greater than the
limit of human hearing.

Higher frequencies have a correspondingly smaller wavelength and can be used to

make sonograms with smaller details. Diagnostic sonography (ultrasonography) is an
ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize subcutaneous body
structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible
pathology or lesions. Sonography is effective for imaging soft tissues of the body.
Sonographers typically use a hand-held probe (called a transducer) that is placed
directly on and moved over the patient. A water-based gel is used to couple the
ultrasound between the transducer and patient. In this report, it will be explained how
ultrasound works and what are its characteristics and applications......

1.BASIC SOUND
In order to understand diagnostic ultrasound, sound should be thought of as more
than just the familiar sense of hearing. Rather, sound should be thought of as the
interaction of energy and matter.

sound is mechanical energy transmitted by pressure waves in a medium, which means

that sound exists in the form of particles moving in a medium. A sound source, such as
a tuning fork, acts like a piston pushing waves of vibration longitudinally through tissue.

The sound wave produced has areas of high pressure (or high density) and low
pressure (or low density). The high-pressure areas (compression) are where the sound
waves are compressed together, and the low-pressure areas ( rarefaction) are where
the sound waves are spaced apart

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 Figure 1 Longitudinal Wave

Sound particles should be thought of as elements of transverse and longitudinal

waveforms moving in a medium. In diagnostic ultrasound, the media can be air, blood,
or soft tissue. In the absence of media, sound cannot propagate.

In longitudinal waves, the displacement of the medium is parallel to the propagation of

the wave.

Figure 2 Longitudinal Particle Motion

2.SOUND SOURCE

The production of sound requires an oscillating or vibrating source. A tuning fork is a

good example of how sound is produced by oscillation and vibration. When a tuning
fork vibrates, it moves adjacent air molecules causing them, in turn, to vibrate.
Sound spreads throughout the medium, air, as a wave in all directions.

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In the ultrasound system, the sound source is a piezoelectric crystal, which has unique
electromechanical properties. When an electric current is applied to it, it starts to
vibrate, and these vibrations generate sound waves with frequencies between 1.5 and 8
MHz (i.e., ultrasound). Thus, piezoelectric crystals can convert electric currents into
ultrasound waves.

Figure 3 The Ultrasound Transducer

piezoelectric crystals also, can convert sound waves back into electrical energy so that
the sound waves can be converted into data that can be processed into anatomic
images.

3.WAVES
Ultrasound waves are rarely, however, waves of a single frequency and are generally
made up of multiple frequencies. Accordingly, these waves can interfere with each other
either constructively or destructively.

Figure 4 Constructive Interference Figure 5 Destructive Interference

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Ultrasonic waves are waves of frequency above the audible frequencies the human ear.
In medical diagnostics are used ultrasound frequencies between 3 and 10 MHz

The most important parameters describing the wave are

 Wavelength
 Frequency
 Velocity
 Intensity

The first three characteristics are linked together by the formula:

v=Fλ

Speed of sound (v) is the product of frequency (f) and wavelength (λ)

Sound is presumed to travel at 1540 m/s in soft tissue, which is approximately 1 mile
per second. Therefore, sound of a 1-MHz frequency has a wavelength of 1.54 mm.

3.1. The imaging characteristics of diagnostic ultrasound

The imaging characteristics of diagnostic ultrasound are determined by the ultrasonic
properties of tissue. The velocity of propagation of ultrasound and the attenuation are
the two most important parameters. These determine the frequency with which the
tissues may be imaged, which in turn sets a fundamental limit on the axial and the
lateral resolution.

3.1.1. Propagation velocity

Propagation speed is when sound can travel through a medium and is typically
considered 1540 m/sec for soft tissue. The speed is determined solely by the medium
characteristics, especially those of density and stiffness

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 Figure 6 Speed of Ultrasound in Different Materials

In medical ultrasound, diagnostics are used short pulses of ultrasound, containing a

whole range of frequencies. Human tissues are not homogeneous in terms of ultrasonic
waves, and the passage of waves through the tissue leads to refraction, reflection,
scattering, and absorption of energy.

3.1.2. Attenuation
As the ultrasonic wave propagates through tissue, the energy content in the beam
diminishes progressively. Several mechanisms are responsible for this loss, and the
term attenuation is used to describe loss of energy from all causes.

Attenuation is frequently subdivided into absorption, which involves the transfer of

energy from the mechanical form into heat, and scattering, which involves dispersion of
energy from its main direction of propagation

4.SONOGRAPHY APPLICATIONS
Ultrasound technology is one of the more versatile and useful technologies in the
medical profession. Apart from just prenatal imaging, ultrasound is often used in muscle
healing and in treating soft tissue damage. Ultrasound technology has advanced far
enough in recent years that it has been used as a diagnostic tool in regular family
clinics.

 Sonar Sticks Used to Help Guide the Blind

 Using Ultrasound to Find the Age of Younger Stars
 Wireless Charging

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 CONCLUSIONS

1. sound is mechanical energy transmitted by pressure waves in a medium, which

means that sound exists in the form of particles moving in a medium.
2. The production of sound requires an oscillating or vibrating source.
3. In the ultrasound system, the sound source is a piezoelectric crystal.
4. Ultrasonic waves are waves of frequency above the audible frequencies the
human ear. In medical diagnostics are used ultrasound frequencies between 3
and 10 MHz
5. The imaging characteristics of diagnostic ultrasound are determined by the
ultrasonic properties of tissue.
6. Propagation speed is when sound can travel through a medium and is typically
considered 1540 m/sec for soft tissue

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 REFERENCES

Kossoff, George. (2000). Basic Physics and Imaging Characteristics of

Ultrasound. World journal of surgery. 24. 134-42. 10.1007/s002689910026.

Shriki J. (2014). Ultrasound physics. Critical care clinics, 30(1), 1–v.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2013.08.004

Aldrich, J.E. (2007). Basic physics of ultrasound imaging. Critical Care Medicine,
35, S131-S137.

(2015, March 5). Retrieved from MED ONE

BLOG:https://www.medonegroup.com/aboutus/blog/ultrasound

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