Transducers: Ultrasound transducers

A transducer is a device that converts one form of energy into another for example the
camera used for ultrasound imaging is a transducer. Where the transducers converts voltage
into vibrations and vice-versa. The vibrations are mechanical sound waves, while the voltage is
electro potential energy. The transducer consists of several parts that are integral to producing
the wave, transmitting it into the body and receiving echoes from body structures. There are
many type of transducers such as ultrasound transducer, ultrasonic transducer, piezoelectric
transducer and transducer echo. However we just focus on how ultrasound transducer works.

Firstly, is by using Crystals where it is a source of transducers' mechanical waves. Voltage is

applied to a crystal, which causes it to vibrate, a characteristic called the piezoelectric effect.
The amount of voltage controls the frequency of the vibration, which, in turn, produces the
desired frequency of the sound wave. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is a man-made material
commonly used for transducer crystals.
The crystal is shaped like a circular lens. The sound beam initially projects from the crystal at
the same diameter as the crystal and gradually decreases to half the diameter. This is the focus
of the beam. After the focus, the beam gradually increases in diameter. That is why Ultrasound
transducers use many crystals to produce a two-dimensional image.

Besides that, Specific structures are examined using ultrasound, so the natural focus of a
beam is not sufficient for adequate imaging. The focus must be different for structures based
on their distance from the transducer. Lenses, curved elements and mirrors may be used in
transducers to improve focusing and cannot be changed. Electronic focusing is controlled by the
sonographer by making adjustments to the settings on the machine. If there have changing of
the focus causes the transducer to apply voltage to different crystals at different times. This
timing changes the focus of the beam.

On the other hand, Acoustic impedance is determined by the density of a material and the
velocity of the sound wave, which is determined by the material through which it travels. If two
materials have different acoustic impedances, sound will reflect off the structure producing a
reading on the sonogram. The difference in acoustic impedances will determine how much
sound is reflected, and how much will continue to transmit through the body. The acoustic
impedance of the crystal and that of air are quite different, so there will be no ultrasound
transmission beyond the surface of the transducer.

To minimize acoustic impedance between the crystal and the body, several matching layers
are placed between the crystal and the surface of the transducer. Several matching layers are
used, starting with one with acoustic impedance close to that of the crystal, and ending with a
layer that has acoustic impedance close to that of the skin. This decreases reflections and
allows more sound to propagate into the body.
 Ultrasound gel is applied to the skin to remove air between the transducer and the body. This
eliminates the reflection that would be caused by the difference in the acoustic impedance of
air. The ultrasound gel aids in the propagation of sound waves into the body.
Ultrasound waves reflect off tissues. These reflections are called echoes, and they travel back
through the ultrasound gel, the matching layer and the crystal. From the crystal, the ultrasound
waves are converted from mechanical energy to electro potential energy, or voltage. This
energy is sent to the rest of the ultrasound system for conversion into a digital image.
Examples image of ultrasound transducers.
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