Applications of ultrasonic transducers in the medical industry are widespread and continually advancing. From diagnostic testing that allows parents to see their new baby’s heartbeat for the first time to surgical devices that can treat rare cancers, ultrasonic transducers play a key role in healthcare today.
A piezoelectric transducer produces ultrasound because the material used to manufacture the transducer vibrates when an AC voltage is applied. This vibration creates very high-frequency air pressure waves; at rates of 10MHz or higher. To produce ultrasound waves at these frequencies most medical applications of ultrasound use lead zirconate titanate ceramics (PZT). These same materials can also work in reverse, to detect ultrasonic waves and convert the energy from those waves into an electric signal.
The most common use for ultrasonic transducers in the medical field is for ultrasonic imaging. The imaging is created using both the echo time of the ultrasound and the Doppler shift of the reflected sound to determine the distance to the targeted internal organ and its movement. Ultrasonic imaging involves the creation of ultrasonic sound waves using a piezoelectric transducer and also the conversion of the reflected ultrasound waves into an electric signal using a piezoelectric transducer (often the same piezoelectric ceramic).
Another growing use for ultrasound is in ultrasonic surgery. Ultrasonic surgery is minimally invasive and precise enough to allow a surgeon to remove diseased or damaged tissue without affecting surrounding areas. This results in faster recovery times and improved patient outcomes.
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