USS Flashcards
How would the USS waves are produced?
USS waves are produced by a transducer that converts electrical signal into an uss beam.
It consists of a peizoceramic disc or rectangular plate
what is the plate made of in the transducers?
it is made of compressed microcrystalline lead zirconate titanate -PZT- or PVDF
Hows the two flat faces are made electerically conducting?
with a very thin coating of silver.
what would happen when a DC voltage is applied to the flat face of the disc?
it expands and if the voltage is reversed it contracts
The movement of the face is proportional to the voltage.
T/F?
The voltage produced is inversely proportional to the pressure.
False
The voltage produced is proportional to the pressure.
When the disc is compressed equal and opposite charges and corresponding voltage appear on the two flat faces.
T/F
The transducers can act as both transmitter and a reciever.
True
what is a Curie temperature?
when heated above a certain temp, transducers lose their peizoelectric properties
eg 350C for PZT
what type of voltage is used in pulsed mode?
DC
when the Tx is in contact with a patient and DC is applied, it instantly expands and compresses a layer of the material in contact with it, this also affects the adjacent material therefore a layer or wave of compression travels with a velocity through the material followed by wave of decompression or rarefaction
what type of voltage is used in continuous wave mode?
AC
When AC is applied, the crystal face pulses forward and backwards like a piston producing successive compression and rarefaction
Each compression wave has moved forward by a distance called the wavelength by the time the next one is produced.
the graph of pressure against time is what type of graph?
It is a sine wave.
T/F?
The USS waves can travel in vacuume.
False
The sound waves unlike, x rays and light, require a medium to travel through
T/F?
The USS waves are a transverse wave
false
sound wave is a longitudinal wave
T/F?
X and gamma rays and sound waves can be reflected, refracted and focused
false
unlike X and gamma rays, teh sound waves can be reflected, refracted and focused
T/F?
The greater the density the lower the velocity
True
T/F?
The greater the compressibility the greater the velocity
False
The greater the compressibility, the lower the velocity
T/F?
velocity is independent of temperture
False
Velocity depends on temperature.
How long does it take for sound waves to travel 1cm in average soft tissue?
7 micros
Air has ……..density but is much more…… tahn water or tissue, hence the ….velocity.
Air has ..much lower..density but is much more..compressible.. than water or tissue, hence the ..low..velocity.
T/F?
wavelength is proportional to velocity.
True
what is the unit of measuring intensity of USS?
Intensity of USS measured in watts per square mm- W/mm2-. this is proportional to the square of the wave amplitude and is under the operator’s control.
what is constructive interference?
This is when two waves are in phase/in step, their amplitudes add up.
What is destructive interference?
This is when two waves cancel each other out.
what would happen if two waves are only partially out of phase?
They result in reduced intensity.
T/F?
the transducer vibrates to produce a wavelength in the transducer equal to half the thickness (t) of the PZT disc.
False
the transducer vibrates to produce a wavelength in the transducer equal to TWICE the thickness (t) of the PZT disc.
Define resonant frequency:
The frequency at which the transducer is the most efficient as a transmitter of sound is also the frequency at which it is most sensitive as a receiver of sound. It is called its neutral or resonant frequency.
T/F?
The thicker the transducer, the lower the natural frequency and the longer the wavelength.
True
what is the relationship between transducer thickness and the wavelength.
The thicker the transducer–> the lower the natural frequency and–> the longer the wavelength.
what is the natural period of a transducer?
T=1/f
what does the resonant frequency of a transducer depend on?
it depends on
i) its dimension, particularly its thickness
ii) its materials.
To change the frequency , the Tx has to be changed
A 3.5 MHz transducer has a disc about ……..mm thick.
A 3.5 MHz transducer has a disc about ..0.5..mm thick.
T/F?
The amplitude of pressure wave decays linearly.
False
They decay exponentially with time.
what is damping?
What is ringing?
The amplitude of pressure waves decay exponentially with time. This is called damping.
If the vibration continues for an appreciable time, it is called ringing.
What is a low mechanical coefficient/Q value?
If the damping is heavy , it has a short time constant or ring down time.
This is said to have a low mechanical coefficient or Q value.
T/F?
A transducer that is lightly damped has a lower Q.
False
A transducer that is lightly damped has a higher Q.
T/F?
A transducer that is lightly damped has a higher Q, producing longer pulse and higher output of sound.
True
A transducer that is lightly damped has a higher Q, producing longer pulse and higher output of sound.
T/F?
USS travels at a constant speed in tissue.
True
what does the acoustic insulator do in USS probe design?
It stops the transducer vibrating in hand.
What is the function of backing material in USS probe design?
It stops vibrations reverberating back into the PZT material.
It also determines the length of the USS pulse by determining how much it is dampened-Q value
What is the function of piezoelectric material in USS probe design?
this is the material that forms the USS and receives echoes.
it is 1/2 wavelength thick and is usually composed of 256 crystals.
what is the size of PZT material in USS probe design?
its 1/2 wavelength thick and it is usually composed of 256 crystals.
what is the size matching layer in USS probe design?
it is always 1/4 wavelength thick to educe wavelength impedance difference.
Why is matching layer 1/4 wavelength thick?
to reduce wavelength impedance difference.
In continuous mode the transducer emits sound if …….frequency
single
in pulsed mode it emits……….
continuous spectrum of sine waves having a range of frequencies
what is the bandwidth?
The bandwidth is the full width at half maximum intensity- FWHM- of the frequency spectrum.
a short pulse has a wider bandwidth of freq.
What is the mechanical coefficient-Q?
This is the ratio of mean frequency to bandwidth.
The greater the Q, the narrower the bandwidth both as transmitter and receiver.
what is the effect of Q on bandwidth?
The greater the Q, the narrower the bandwidth both as transmitter and receiver.
What sort of Q transducer is suitable for continuous wave imaging?
High Q produces a pure note and responds only to that note, which is good for continuous wave uss.
What sort of Q transducer is suitable for pulsed wave imaging?
One with a low Q has a short ring down time, produces short pulses and responds to a range of frequencies.
What direction would sound waves travel in if the transducer had a diameter equal to one wavelength or less?
Sound would spread out equally in all directions.
T/F?
USS is a higher end of electromagnetic radiation spectrum.
False
USS is not an electromagnetic radiation.
But it does undergo reflection and refraction at the interface.
what is near field or the Fresnel region?
This is the near parallel part of the beam.
It extends a distance D2/4 wavelength
ie the length of the near zone is proportional to fD2
power of 2
What is the far zone? or the Fraunhofer region?
This is when the interference effect is lost and the beam diverges.
The angle of divergence is larger for …..wavelength/D
The angle of divergence is larger for ..Larger..wavelength/D
ie the far zone divergence is larger for smaller fD
T/F?
The side lobes may cause image artefact.
True.
using a transducer of higher frequency ……….the length of thenear zone and ……the divergence of far zone.( for the same diameter of the disc.
The beams become more directional.
using a transducer of higher frequency ..increases..the length of the near zone and ..decreases..the divergence of far zone.( for the same diameter of the disc.
using a transducer of larger diameter ……… the length of the near zone and …… the divergence of the far zone.
using a transducer of larger diameter ..increases.. the length of the near zone and ..decreases.. the divergence of the far zone.
how do you measure the near field length?
D2*/4wavelength
What are the ways to focus the beam? (3)
- using a curved PZT element
- using a plastic acoustic lens.
- electronic focusing
T/F?
The greater the curvature, the longer the focal length.
False
The greater the curvature, the SHORTER the focal length.
Where would you place the plastic acoustic lens?
This is cemented to the transducer face.
what could you use instead of plastic acoustic lens?
a curved mirror is used instead.
The shorter the focal length , the ……and ……..the focal region or depth of focus over which the beam is reasonably narrow.
The shorter the focal length , the ..narrower.. and ..shorter..the focal region or depth of focus over which the beam is reasonably narrow.
where would you use electronic focusing/ annular array?
This is used in mechanical sector scanners.
T/F?
The focallength cannot be changed without changing the transducer.
false
The focal length can be changed without changing the Tx: The greater the time delay bwn energising successive annular ring , the shorter the focal length.
The focal length can be changed without changing the Tx: The greater the time delay bwn energising successive annular ring , the …………. the focal length.
The greater the time delay bwn energising successive annular ring , the ..shorter.. the focal length.
what is a acoustic impedence-Z-? ( how do we measure it?)
This is the product of density (p) of the material and the velocity (v)
Z = v x p
what does the proportion of energy that is reflected and transmitted depend on?
It depends on the acoustic impedance of the material.
It depends on the density and elasticity of the material.
T/F?
The energy reflected and transmitted in uss depends on frequency.
False
The energy reflected and transmitted in uss is INDEPENDENT of frequency.
How do we measure the fraction of sound that reflected (R) at two interfaces?
R= (Z1-Z2)2/(Z1+Z2)2
the fraction of sound that is reflected at the interface bwn two materials also depend on the angle of incidence.
The greater the difference in Z, the ………. the fraction R reflected.
The greater the difference in Z, the ..greater.. the fraction R reflected.
The less the difference in Z the ……..the fraction transmitted.
The less the difference in Z the ..greater..the fraction transmitted.
what happens when Z1=Z2 ?
There will be 100% transmission and no reflection. eg the transducer and the backing block.
at interface bwn bone and tissue the fraction reflected is about……..
30%
about 70% is transmitted.
what would happen at interface with gas/air and why?
There will be total reflection. As Z is negligible.
gas filled organs cast a shadow and structures underneath cannot be imaged.
Give examples.
the bowel wall can be imaged but not the lumen.
USS can be used to check for air in vessels eg liver.
T/F?
It is possible to get sound from the Tx to the patient and vice versa if there is air trapped bwn the Tx and the skin.
false
It is impossible. It is all reflected back. for this reason the transducer is pressed against the patient and a coupling gel is used. Bubbles of air must be avoided.
because of the mismatch of Z bwn the Tx and tissue only……… of the sound would be transmitted in either direction bwn the Tx and the pt.
because of the mismatch of Z bwn the Tx and tissue only..20%.. of the sound would be transmitted.
How would you overcome the mismatch of Z bwn the Tx and the patient?
by attaching a matching plate to the front face of the trnsducer.
what is the size of the matching plate?
it is a quarter of a wavelength thick and made of a plastic compound that has an intermediate Z.
T/F?
small fractions of USS are reflected at interface bwn different soft tissue- eg 1% at fat/kidney interface.
True
T/F?
Reflections
False
T/F?
The angle of reflection = the angle of incidence
True
What is Snell’s law?
This is when the ratio of sines of the incidence and refraction angle is equal to the ratio of sound velocities in the two material.
Sin1 : sin 2 = V1 : V2
What is the effect of wavelength and roughness of the surface on the spread?
The shorter the wavelength , the rougher the surface, the wider the spread
T/F?
In imaging the transducer will receive some reflections even if the beam does not strike an interface exactly at right angles.
True
T/F?
When sound encounters a structure that is much smaller - eg red blood corpuscle or tissue parenchyma- than the wavelength it is scattered more or less equally in all directions.
True
T/F?
Sound is attenuated exponentially with the depth of travel.
True
What is attenuation measured in ? (unit)
Decibels dB- this allows a wide range of power or intensity ratios to be expressed by using a log scale.
10 x log (power or intensity ratio ) = no of decibels.
T/F?
The higher the frequency the lower the attenuation
False
The higher the frequency the greater the attenuation.
Why is sound attenuated exponentially?
Energy is absorbed and converted into heat by frictional and viscous forces in the material
energy leaves the forward travelling beam due to scattering and to partial reflection by the multitude of interfaces that the beam encounters on route.
The decibel valuse are additive.
What does the +ve and -ve value mean?
+ve values are amplification and -ve values are attenuation.
Define half value layer-HVL?
The thickness of tissue that reduces the sound intensity to half its original value is called HVL.
The dB loss in tissue per cm is proportional to …..
frequency.
ie at 3.5 MHz the loss is about 3.5 dB/cm
There is ………..absorption or scatter in water, so a full baldder can help in USS penetration.
little
in bone the attenuation is ……
much greater
35 dB/cm at 2.5 MHz
Air attenuates………
heavily
attenuation in lung 40 dB/cm at 1 MHz
T/F?
The higher the frequency the higher the penetration.
False
The higher the frequency the less the effective penetration of the beam.
What is the formula for penetration?
penetration (cm) = 40/ frequency (MHz)
what are the uses of A-mode imaging?
Examining the eye
identification of cysts in the breast
showing midline displacement in the brain.