Diagnostic

Ultrasound Imaging

Chapter 23
Ultra Sound
Any sound with a frequency above
20,000 Hz (or 20 kHz)—that is,
above the highest audible
frequency—is defined to be
ultrasound. In practice, it is
possible to create ultrasound
frequencies up to more than a
gigahertz.
Relative Intensities of Waves and Acoustic Impedance
Incident Wave Reflected Wave

Transmitted Wave

Page 630
Acoustic Impedance Z
Acoustic impedance (Z) is a physical property of tissue. It describes
how much resistance an ultrasound beam encounters as it passes
through a tissue. Acoustic impedance depends on: the density of the
tissue (ρ, in kg/m3) the speed of the sound wave (c, in m/s)

Z  c
 : density of the medium
c : speed of sound in the medium
Unit
Kg m-2 s-1 OR rayl 23-4
Ultrasonic waves are reflected at boundaries
where there is a difference in acoustic
impedances (Z) of the materials on each side
of the boundary. This difference in Z is
commonly referred to as the impedance
mismatch. The greater the impedance
mismatch, the greater the percentage of
energy that will be reflected at the interface
and vice versa.
Intensity Transmission TI (It/Ii)

TI = 4Z1Z2/(Z1 + Z2 ) 2

Intensity Reflection RI (Ir/Ii)

RI = (Z1 - Z2) /(Z1 + Z2 )

2 2

23-6
The Ultrasound Image (Sonogram)

An ultrasound transducer, also called a probe, is a device that

produces sound waves that bounce off body tissues and make
echoes. The transducer also receives the echoes and sends them to
a computer that uses them to create an image called sonogram. ... It
serves to generate as well as receive ultrasound waves
Ultrasound Sonography
An ultrasound scan is a medical test that uses high- An ultrasound can provide a view
frequency sound waves to capture live images from the of the:
inside of your body. It’s also known as sonography. •Bladder , brain (in infants), eyes
An ultrasound allows your doctor to see problems with •Gallbladder, kidneys, liver
organs, vessels, and tissues without needing to make an •Ovaries, pancreas, spleen
incision. •Thyroid, testicles ,uterus
Ultrasound waves are reflected at the surfaces between •blood vessels,
the tissues of different density, the reflection being •An ultrasound is also a helpful
proportional to the difference in impedance. If the way to guide surgeons’
difference in tissue density is very different, then the movements during certain
sound is completely reflected, resulting in total medical procedures, such as
acoustic shadowing. biopsies.
Homogenous fluids like blood, bile, urine, contents of
simple cysts are seen as echo-free structures.
Example 23.2 Page 631
Incident Intensity Iincident = 5 × 10-2 Jcm-2 s-1
= 50 mW/cm2
= 50 × 10-3 W /1 × 10-4 m2 = 500 W/m2
Zfat = 1.33 × 106 rayl

Zmuscle = 1.66 × 106 rayl

We Know
RI = (Z1 - Z2)2/(Z1 + Z2 )2 = (1.66 -1.33 )2/ (1.66+1.33)2

RI = 0.012 = 1.2 %

And TI = 4Z1Z2/(Z1 + Z2 )2 = 4 (1.66)(1.33)/ (1.66+1.33)2