Venkanna.

CH,
M.Tech(E.I.),
104018.
Outline:
 What is ultrasound?
 About Ultrasound imaging
 Applications
 Overall ultrasound imaging system
 Ultrasound transducer
 Imaging modes
 Benefits and Risks
 References
Ultrasound?
 The frequencies above the audio frequency range of
human ear which is greater than 20 kHz.

 For medical diagnosis, typically ranging from 1 to 30

MHz.

 EX: Bats used for hunting

Sound Spectra

0 20 Hz 20 kHz 1 MHz 30 MHz

Infrared Audible NDT

Sound Sound Cleaning
Diagnostic

Imaging
What is Ultrasound Imaging?
 Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning
or sonography, involves exposing part of the body to
high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the
inside of the body.

 ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can

show the structure and movement of the body's
internal organs, as well as blood flowing through
blood vessels.
By measuring the difference in time between the pulse being
transmitted and the echo being received, it is possible to
determine how far away the object is.
What are some common uses of
the procedure?
 Ultrasound is used to examining many of the body's
internal organs
 heart
 blood vessels
 Liver
 Kidneys
 Thyroid and parathyroid glands
 blockages to blood flow
 brain in infants
 Date the pregnancy (Obstetric Sonography)
Ultrasound imaging system what does
look like?
Overall Ultrasound imaging system:
Ultrasound transducer:
 Transducer is a small hand-held device that resembles
a microphone, attached to the scanner by a cord.

 The transducer sends out high frequency sound waves

into the body and then listens for the returning echoes
from the tissues in the body.

 The transducer records tiny changes in the sound's

pitch and direction.
 These reflected waves are instantly measured and
displayed by a computer, which in turn creates a real-
time picture on the monitor.
 There are three main types of transducer: linear,
curved, and sector

Ultrasound Transducer Types

Ultrasound transducer elements:
Piezoelectric Effect

Short pulse
( < 1 µs )

A short voltage pulse generates an oscillation at the crystal‘s

resonant
frequency f0
Krautkramer NDT Ultrasonic Systems
Reception of ultrasonic waves
A sound wave hitting a piezoelectric crystal, induces
crystal vibration which then causes electrical voltages at
the crystal surfaces.

Electrical Piezoelectrical
crystal Ultrasonic wave
energy

Krautkramer NDT Ultrasonic Systems

  frequency =  depth of penetration
  frequency = sound waves are absorbed in more
superficial tissues (3 MHz).

 Acoustic insulator:
An acoustic absorber is attached to the back of the
piezo-ceramic material to prevent any sound waves
from the back of the transducer from interfering with
the sound waves on the front of the transducer.
Imaging Modes:
 Different modes of ultrasound are used in medical
imaging. These are:
 A-mode (Amplitude): imaging displays the amplitude of
a sampled voltage signal for a single sound wave as a
function of time. This mode is considered 1D and used to
measure the distance between two objects.
 B-mode (Brightness): imaging is the same as A-mode,
except that brightness is used to represent the amplitude of
the sampled signal. B mode imaging is performed by
sweeping the transmitted sound wave over the plane to
produce a 2D image.
 Doppler mode: This mode makes use of the Doppler
effect in measuring and visualizing blood flow.
 CW (Continuous Wave) Doppler, a sound wave at a single
frequency is continuously transmitted from one piezo-
electric element and a second piezo-electric element is
used to continuously record the reflected sound wave.
 Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler: Doppler information is
sampled from only a small sample volume (defined in 2D
image), and presented on a timeline
Benefits and Risks:
 Benefits:
 Ultrasound scanning is noninvasive (no needles or injections) and is usually
painless.
 Ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality for the diagnosis and
monitoring of pregnant women and their unborn babies.
 Easy-to-use and less expensive than other imaging methods.
 Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up
well on x-ray images.
Risks:
 For standard diagnostic ultrasound there are no known harmful effects
on humans.
 Limitations:
 Large patients are more difficult to image by
ultrasound because tissue attenuates (weakens) the
sound waves as they pass deeper into the body.

 Ultrasound has difficulty penetrating bone and

therefore can only see the outer surface of bony
structures and not what lies within.
 References:
 [1] Advanced Signal Processing Handbook: Theory and
Implementation for Radar, Sonar, and Medical Imaging Real-Time
Systems, Stergiopoulos, S., ed., CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, 2001.
 [2] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_ultrasonography
 [3] radiologyinfo.org
 [4]A Review of Therapeutic Ultrasound: Effectiveness Studies, Valma J
Robertson, Kerry G Baker, Physical Therapy . Volume 81 . Number 7 .
July 2001
THANK
YOU