Ultrasonic transducers and arrays

Ultrasonic transducers and arrays All ultrasonic imaging systems require a device called an ultrasonic transducer to convert electrical energy into ultrasonic or acoustic energy and vice versa. Ultrasonic transducers come in a variety of forms and sizes, ranging from single-element transducers for mechanical scanning to linear arrays to multidimensional arrays for electronic scanning. Although the performance of an ultrasonic scanner is critically dependent upon transducers/arrays, array/transducer performance has been one of the bottlenecks that has prevented current ultrasonic imagers from reaching their theoretical resolution limit. The primary reason is that medical ultrasonic array/transducer design and fabrication are processes of a broad interdisciplinary nature. They require knowledge from a variety of disciplines, such as acoustics and vibration, electrical engineering, material sciences and engineering, medical imaging, and anatomy and physiology. It is no wonder that even to date the design of transducers is still mostly empirical, generally involving a trial-and-error approach. Many manufacturers regard their expertise in designing and manufacturing transducers as a trade secret of the highest order.