Module 1: Transducer Design Flashcards
What does a transducer do in terms of energy?
Converts energy from one form to another
What is the transducer in terms of singals? What causes it to do it?
- Piezoelectric crystal or element
- Signal conversion device
What is a crystal in terms of the ultrasound probe?
Piezoelectric material
What is the element in the U/S probe
Another name for piezoelectric crystal
What is the scan head in the ultrasound probe?
Another name for transducer (or the sonography)
What is the probe?
Another name for transducer
What is the transducer assembly?
The housing and internal circuitry
A single element in the ultrasound probe can be used to do what?
Send and receive sound
Some of the more common parts of the U/S probe is what?
- Housing
- Backing material
- Crystal
- Matching layer
What does the housing do in the ultrasound probe?
Contains all probe components
What is the backing material in the ultrasound probe made of?
Mixture of metal, plastic, or epoxy bonded to the back of the crystal
What is the crystal in the ultrasound probe?
A ceramic element that has piezoelectric properties
What is the matching layer in the ultrasound probe used for?
Used to reduce sound reflection from the skin and enhance sound transmission
The three main parts of the ultrasound probe?
- Crystal
- Backing material
- Matching layer
Who discovered the piezoelectric principle?
Jacques and Pierre curie
What does the piezoelectric principle explain?
How some materials can convert electric energy to mechanical and vice versa
Which natural materials have piezoelectric properties (and used in early days)?
Quartz, lithium sulphate, Rochelle salt, and tourmaline
What crystals are used in modern day equipment?
Man made ceramics like
1. Lead zirconate
2. Lead titanate
3. Barium titanite
4. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT)*
5. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVFD)
What is the piezoelectric (direct) effect?
When a mechanical pressure deforms the crystal which changes the orientation of the electric dipoles producing a small electric voltage
What is the reverse (indirect) effect?
Where an electric voltage changes the orientation of the dipoles causing the crystal to expand and contract
What are electric dipoles?
Essentially the molecules within the crystal and the have a positive charge at one end and a negative charge at the other end
What else can electric dipoles be influenced by?
Electrical or magnetic fields
Normally the dipoles are in what kind of alignment?
Random alignment
What does the random alignment of dipoles do for ultrasound?
They make the crystal inefficient for vibration when an electrical current is applied
If the dipoles are in alignment then what happens?
The vibration of the crystal will be much improved
When the crystal vibrates we must consider what?
The different modes of vibration that may occur
In early probes the crystal was what? This accounted for what:
Disc shaped and could vibrate in a thickeness mode or a radial mode
What are the three modes of vibration for modern day probes?
- Thickness
- Length
- Width
For modern probes what are the most desirable mode?
Thickness
Synthetic materials are used in the production of what? This does what?
Synthetic materials are used in the production of the crystal so that more pure product can be develop
How do we make substance align properly to enhance the piezoelectric properties for ultrasound production?
Currie temperature
What happens when we heat something above the Currie temperature?
The bonds between the molecule weaken
What is the Currie temperature for PZT?
350 degrees
What is the Currie temperature process?
- Heat above the Currie temp to weaken bonds
- Substance is subjected to an electrical field then the dipoles will align accordingly
- The substance is then cooled and the bonds strengthen
Heat can polarize what?
The dipoles
Reheating can do what?
Potential depolarize as well