Ultrasound Probe Definition
High-frequency sound waves--or ultrasound--are used in medical diagnostic tests to produce images of the body's interior. An ultrasound probe administers the sound waves to specific areas of the body.
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Features
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Ultrasound probes contain one or more transducers that emit high-frequency sound waves and collect the echoes to produce an image. The transducers are housed in a probe in order to steer and focus the sonic beams to the targeted area.
Uses
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Ultrasound probes are mostly used externally, with their sensors held against specific areas of the body. The probes also may be used internally, inserted into the esophagus, rectum or vagina.
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Types
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Most external ultrasound procedures are done with a small, handheld probe that resembles a microphone. Thinner probes, such as the transesophageal probe inserted in the esophagus to examine the heart, are used for internal applications.
Benefits
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Ultrasound probes offer comprehensive internal medical imaging without the need for radiation or a surgical procedure.
Materials
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Most ultrasound probes are constructed from piezoelectric materials such as lead zirconate titanate because of their ability to transmit sound waves in response to an electrical charge.
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