Course Review

Ultrasound Fundamentals
Transducer Form and Function

Outline the components of a transducer

• Strain relief - A thick elastic material that protects and binds the cable and transducer housing interface.
• Connector - The connector engages the transducer to the ultrasound system.
• Acoustic Lens - Aligns the acoustic impedance of the elements. Aperture and elevation focus the beam.
• Piezoelectric Element - The elements can range from naturally occurring or human-made the crystal or ceramic; the
quantity, material, and the arrangement depending on the transducer design
• Matching Layer(s) - This layer is atop the elements and can be several thin layers of material that creates
equilibrium between the piezoelectric elements and the acoustic lens so the sound energy can transmit.
• Blocking/Backing Material - Bound to the piezoelectric elements. The backing block absorbs ringing that occurs
from the generation of the transmit pulse.
• Electronic channels- parallel circuitry that simultaneously sends and receive.
• Acoustic Coupling - Lens pressed into the acoustic material, and the skin reduces air and surface creates an efficient
transmission boundary.
• Air and Impedance - The impedance of tissue to air are very large. When ultrasound encounters air anywhere along
the path, the air boundary bounces the energy back.
• Air effect at the lens - Air has much different impedance than the skin, and air stops the sound energy.

Name the image zones

• Near-field – In theory the region is closest to the origin of the beam.
• Focus zone(s) - The focus is the region of interest that is in focus with the clearest and best definition. There can be
single or multiple focal zones.
• Focus Uniformity - Dynamic focus, continuously optimize the image from the near to far-field eliminating the need
for multiple focal zones.
• Far-field - As the beam moves farther out, this becomes the far-field.
• Depth - The depth of the field of view displayed along the vertical Y-axis.
• Width - The width is across the horizontal or X-axis within the field of view relative to its shape of the transducer.

Associate common transducer beam shapes to an exam type

• Linear FOV –a versatile transducer the linear has a rectangular FOV and sometimes trapezoidal to detail tissue
composition.
• Curved FOV – Fan or chevron shaped FOV, fans out to show the broad relationship of the organs to one another.
• Vector or Phased FOV – Designed to scan between ribs, this FOV originates at a small point and then fans out to a
larger region of interest.
• Micro Convex FOV – Similar to the convex but has a small interface used for small ‘windows,’ or tight spaces emits
a very wide beam shape that fans or angles outward.

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Disclaimer

Please note that the learning material is for training purposes only!

For the proper use of the software or hardware, please always use the Operator Manual or Instructions for Use (hereinaf-
ter collectively “Operator Manual”) issued by Siemens Healthineers. This material is to be used as training material only
and shall by no means substitute the Operator Manual. Any material used in this training will not be updated on a regular
basis and does not necessarily reflect the latest version of the software and hardware available at the time of the training.

The Operator's Manual shall be used as your main reference, in particular for relevant safety information like warnings
and cautions.

Note: Some functions shown in this material are optional and might not be part of your system.

Certain products, product related claims or functionalities (hereinafter collectively “Functionality”) may not (yet) be
commercially available in your country. Due to regulatory requirements, the future availability of said Functionalities in
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current information.

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Copyright © Siemens Healthcare GmbH 2019

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