PROBE LAB INDIA

NECESSITY OF UNIFORM ACOUSTIC LAYER ON ULTRASOUND PROBES

WHAT IS AN ACOUSTIC LAYER ?????

• It is a gray (other colors also) colored part looking like rubber attached to the tip of the ultrasound probe.
• It is the intermediate material between the piezoelectric material and the object.
• Also called acoustic lens and matching layer (for some probes).
• It is designed to have adequate acoustic impedance value using a combination of different resins and is deposited uniformly on the tip of the probe. 
• The suggested membrane thickness is 0.0002 inches

WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF AN ACOUSTIC LAYER?

• Maintain the acoustic impedance between the piezoelectric material and the object.
• Prevent the ultrasound wave from spreading and focused them in a slice direction to improve the resolution (Beam focusing). 
• Act as protection barrier for piezoelectric crystals.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LAYER IS NOT UNIFORM ????

• Poor Beam focusing : If the layer is not uniform over the surface then the transmitted ultrasound wave get spread over the plane which will lead to decrease in resolution.
• Impedance mismatch : Changes in thickness will create impedance difference
• It devastatingly lengthens the ultrasound wave and ring down time. 

US IMAGE OF URINARY BLADDER BY A NON-UNIFORMLY LAYERED  PROBE

US IMAGE OF URINARY BLADDER BY UNIFORMLY LAYERED  PROBE

To know more about the acoustic lens and lens replacement call  9847069684