Ultrasound Systems

Ultrasound is a type of sound wave. High frequency sound waves generated by piezoelectric effects are sent back to the ultrasound machine and appear as images, called sonograms. Frequencies range from 20kHz upwards. Images are generated by the sending of pulses from the ultrasound probe (also known as “transducer”) which is placed directly inside the body (endocavitary probes – which are inserted in the vagina, oesophagus or rectum, or intraoperative probes which are used during operation in theatre). Aside from endocavitary and intraoperative probes, some probes such as linear probes, are placed directly onto the patient’s skin. The process is as follows: sound waves travel through the body, with a certain percentage being reflected to the probe and others travelling to other tissue parts. The image (sonogram) then shows the ultrasound waves which are reflected to the probe. This process is undertaken by the CPU, by which the distance from the tissue/specific organ is calculated by comparing the speed of sound (in tissue – 1540 m/s) and the time by which each echo returns. The resulting image (in 2D) is based on distances and distances and the signal intensity of the echoes which have been reflected. This is an introductory insight to ultrasonography, but there are of course more detailed explanations, which are explained below.

2-D ultrasound

The most used ultrasound imaging consists of a series of flat, two-dimensional cross-sectional images of the tissue being scanned. This type of scanning is simply known as 2-D ultrasound and, after around half a century, is still the standard for many diagnostic and obstetric situations.

3-D ultrasound

In this type of ultrasound, 2-D images are projected into three-dimensional representations. This is achieved by scanning tissue cross-sections at many different angles and reconstructing the received data into a three-dimensional image. One of the common uses for 3-D ultrasound imaging is to provide a completer and more realistic picture of a developing fetus.

4-D ultrasound

Thanks to the rapid processing of 3-D ultrasound images, sonography can also create 4-D ultrasound images. In 4-D ultrasound, the fourth dimension, time, adds movement and creates the most realistic representation of any system. In some cases, 3-D and 4-D ultrasound images can reveal anomalies that are not readily apparent with 2-D ultrasound.

Doppler ultrasound

Assessing blood flow while moving through blood vessels is a common part of many types of ultrasound. While conventional 2-D ultrasound and its three-dimensional offshoot show internal tissues and structures, another type of ultrasound is required to assess blood flow and pressure in a blood vessel. Doppler ultrasound analysis reflects high-frequency sound waves from moving blood cells and records changes in frequency in the sound waves as they return to the transducer probe. This data is then converted into a visual representation that shows how fast and in which direction blood is flowing. Doppler ultrasound is an indispensable diagnostic tool in all areas of ultrasound diagnostics and in many cases, it is preferable to X-ray angiography, as the patient does not have to be injected with a contrast media.

Standard Probes

Linear – for MSK, vascular, thyroid, testes, penile, mammography, small parts, pediatrics

Convex – for obstetrics, gynaecology, abdominal, pediatrics, neonatal, kidneys, urology

Phased-Array (aka “sector-array”) – for cardiology, intracranial, some small parts, lungs

3D/4D Probes

Endocavitary 4D – for urology, gynaecology, obstetrics

Convex 4D – for abdominal, gynaecology, obstetrics, urology

Laparoscopic Probes

Intraoperative probes

TEE Probes

Transoesophageal probes – for cardiology

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