Learn from our Slideshare about the differences between ultrasound transducers. We also cover tips on how to treat your probes and how to select the right one.

1. Ultrasound Transducer Types
- How to Select the Right Transducer

2. • Produces sound waves that
bounce off body tissues and
make echoes.
• Receives the echoes and
sends them to a computer that
uses them to create an image
called sonogram.
How Does an Ultrasound Transducer
Work?

3. Ultrasound Transducer Features
Vary a lot, and have diverse
features – different
specifications are needed for
maintaining image quality
across different parts of the
body.
Can be either passed over the
surface of the body – external
transducers, or can be
inserted into an orifice, such
as the rectum or vagina –
these are internal
transducers.
The ultrasound transducers
differ in construction based
on:
- Piezoelectric crystal
arrangement;
- Aperture (footprint);
- Frequency
Shape and Size Uses Construction

4. Ultrasound
Transducer
Types
• Linear
• Phased Array
• Endocavitary
• Convex
• Transeosophagal
• Pencil

5. Linear
Transducers
• Piezoelectric crystal arrangement is
linear, the shape of the beam is
rectangular, and the near field
resolution is good.
• The footprint, frequency, and
applications depend on whether the
product is for 2D or 3D imaging.

6. Linear
Transducers
– 2D
Imaging
• A wide footprint, a central
frequency – 2.5Mhz -
12Mhz.
• Used for various
applications, such as
vascular, blood vessel
visualization, breast, thyroid,
tendon, arthrogenous,
intraoperative, laparoscopy,
photoacoustic imaging, and
ultrasonic velocity change
imaging.

7. Linear Transducers – 3D imaging
• A wide footprint, a central
frequency – 7.5Mhz - 11Mhz.
• Can be used for breast, thyroid,
and arteria carotis of vascular
application.

8. Convex
Transducers
• Also called the curved
transducer because the
piezoelectric crystal
arrangement is curvilinear.
• The beam shape is convex
and the transducer is good
for in depth examinations,
even though the image
resolution decreases when
the depth increases.

9. Convex
Transducers
• The footprint, frequency, and
applications also depend on
whether the product is for
2D or 3D imaging.
• There is a subtype called
micro convex – with much
smaller footprint, typically
used in neonatal and
pediatrics.

10. Convex Transducers – 2D imaging
• A wide footprint, central
frequency – 2.5MHz - 7.5MHz.
• Can be used for abdominal
examinations, transvaginal and
transrectal examinations, and
diagnosis of organs.

11. Convex
Transducers
– 3D imaging
• A wide field of view, a central
frequency – 3.5MHz - 6.5MHz.
• Can be used for abdominal
examinations.

12. Phased Array Transducers
• Piezoelectric crystal
arrangement called phased-
array – the most commonly
used crystal.
• A small footprint and low
frequency – its central
frequency is 2Mhz - 7.5Mhz,
beam point is narrow but it
expands depending on the
applied frequency. The beam
shape is almost triangular and
the near field resolution is poor.

13. Phased Array Transducers
Can be used for cardiac
examinations, including
transesophageal examinations,
abdominal and brain
examinations.

14. Pencil
Transducers
• Also called CW Doppler
probes, utilized to measure
blood flow and speed of
sound in blood.
• This probe has a small
footprint and uses low
frequency of 2Mhz - 8Mhz.

15. Endocavitary Transducers
• Used for internal examinations
of the patient, designed to fit in
specific body orifices.
• The endocavitary transducers
include endovaginal, endorectal,
and endocavity
transducers. Typically, they have
small footprints and the
frequency of 3.5Mhz - 11.5Mhz.

16. Transesophageal (TEE) Transducers
• Has a small footprint, used for
internal examinations – often
employed in cardiology to obtain
a better image of the heart
through the oesophagus.
• Its frequency is mid-range:
3Mhz - 10Mhz.

17. Tips for Buying an Ultrasound Transducer
Double check that the probe
you are about to buy is
compatible with the system
you own.
Penetration depth is better at
a low frequency (between 2.5
and 7.5Mhz) but a
disadvantage of the low
frequency is a lower image
quality.
The higher the frequency
(above 7.5Mhz), the lower is
the depth of penetration,
however, you get better
quality images close to the
surface (7.5MHz = 20 cm).

18. Tips for Buying an Ultrasound Transducer
A black line on the screen
of the ultrasound system
will most likely mean that
the transducer has a
dead crystal inside.
A shadow ultrasound
screen could indicate a
weak crystal inside the
transducer that does not
produce the necessary
vibration.
Avoid transducers with a
crack, it will cause noise in
the picture, a missing
connection or lines in the
image.

19. How To
Treat Your
Transducer?
• Do not throw, drop, or knock the
transducer.
• Be careful not to damage the duct
of the transducer.
• Wipe the gel from the transducer
after each use.
• Do not sluice with alcohol-based
liquids.

20. We hope that now you have a clear image of ultrasound transducer types
and that you will be more prepared the next time you are purchasing probes.
If you have any more questions about transducers, do not hesitate to contact
our sales department by mail or phone.
Questions?
sales@lbnmedical.com
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