Question

Probes used in Medical Imaging establishments contain multiple transducers in a fan arrangement. How might more transducers over a range of angles improve the quality of the ultrasound images compared to the scan produced by a single transducer?

Answer 1

Transducer probes are important part of ultrasound machines. It receives the soundwaves from rapid shape changes and vibrations, through the crystals which travel outward. When sound or pressure waves hit the crystals, electrical currents are emited .

A single ultrasound transducer is a piezoelectric element which vibrates under electric current, one transducer for transmitting and receiving signals will help to create a “2-D” image.

With some improvement in this field, devices were made with 3–7 linear arrays with a collection of few hundred transducers. The extra rows are used to help focus the wave.

The later development and advanced techniques led to the creation of ultrasound machines which are capable of three-dimensional imaging .Many two-dimensional images are acquired by moving the transducer probes across the body surface or rotating the probes which are inserted inside the specimen. Specialized computer software are used to combine the two-dimensional scans to form 3-D images. Use of multiple transducers come into play which are used in the measurement of these biomechanical data. These transducers include strain gauges, load cells, linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs), and rotational variable differential transducers (RVDTs) etc. On the surface of a specimen strain gauges are mounted and this forms a reflection of the surface strain at the location of the gauge. Load cells are of different ranges and sizes, and choosing the appropriate size is important , strain gauges are often used to determine the force as measured by a load cell.To measure linear and rotational displacements LVDTs and RVDTs are used in conjunction with load cells and test systems. They are also available in a variety of sizes and shapes. The appropriate LVDT or RVDT for a given test must be selected with care.

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