Ultrasound Probes and Transducers

Ultrasound probes, also called ultrasound transducers, are handheld devices that are used to send and receive sound waves into the human body for imaging purposes. These probes have piezoelectric crystals inside which are responsible for producing and sensing the sound waves. Using the speed of sound and the amount of time it takes to receive a response, or an echo, from different tissues inside the body, the ultrasound system can produce a 2D, 3D, or 4D image. Ultrasound probes come in different shapes and sizes. These probes have different fields of views, frequencies, and crystal arrangements. Some of the more popular types of transducers used today fall under the categories linear, convex, or phased array.