Reviews and News on Ultrasound Machines

Any medical imaging specialist will tell you, the most important part of medical ultrasound scanners is the “transducer probe”. This is the part of the machine that converts sound waves into electronic signals, and back again. In most cases, the transducer probe is made out of piezoelectric materials, which are designed to produce electrical voltage when stressed and also deform when external voltage is applied.

While this type transducer probe is considered the industry standard, a better type of probe can be made using a different principle. The principle of the “condenser microphone”, also known a capacitive transducer, uses a back plane with a thin membrane that vibrates. The only issue with bringing this type of transducer to market has been their need to contain enormous electrical fields, which has been difficult to accomplish. However, researchers have made progress recently by using the same production techniques often used in making microelectronics. It won’t be long before you begin to see capacitive transducers being routinely offered with medical ultrasound machines. This development should dramatically improve the sharpness of images produced by ultrasound equipment.

These capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) will overcome many of the limitations on existing ultrasound equipment, allowing new applications for ultrasound transducer technology in the field of medical imaging and treatment. CMUTs will bring the fabrication technology of standard, integrated circuits into the field of ultrasound medical imaging.

In terms of bandwidth, high frequency applications, and compatibility with newer imaging models, these devices are expected to be the next generation in acoustic medical imaging. Recent advances in micro-fabrication will make it possible to introduce these new silicon based electrostatic transducers within a few years, when they are expected to compete in performance against the standard piezoelectric transducers.