Basic knowledge and maintenance skills of ultrasound probes
Ultrasound probe is also known as piezoelectric transducer: the transducer is actually the vibrator in the probe, and the material is piezoelectric ceramic material, so the ultrasonic probe is also called transducer.
The structure of the ultrasound probe
Structure: sound head mirror, matching layer, array element, backing, shell, cable, sheath, connector
Acoustic lens damage
The acoustic lens is detached, and the phenomenon of being tilted will hinder the sending/receiving of ultrasonic signals, which can cause serious clinical errors
Matching layer function:
can change the impedance relationship of the front and back media, thereby increasing the transmission coefficient, so that the sound energy can be efficiently transmitted between the piezoelectric wafer and the soft tissue of the human body, which can improve the sensitivity of the transducer, broaden its frequency band, and reduce distortion.
Backing:
Function of sound absorption. Since the array element emits sound waves in both directions, one side emits to the human body, but the other side emits toward the probe. In order to prevent interference, the sound waves emitted to the probe must be filtered out.
Shield:
function to deal with interference and noise
array element
Array element: also known as piezoelectric ceramics
Material: As the name implies, there is a metallic material called lead zirconate titanate on the ceramic, and the main element is called electric domain.
outer shell
Shell:
Shell cracking and damage: Interference occurs, and the couplant enters, causing the array element to oxidize, corrode, and disconnect the weld
The cable covering is taken off
When using a cart, the cover of the probe cable is pressed by the wheels of the cart. If the cable is disconnected and the shielding layer is disconnected, the noise shielding performance will be reduced, and the image will produce noise.
Later developed to an unusable level.
sheath
The type of sheath cracks, breakage, and complete destruction
The sheath is to wrap the connection part of the cable and the handle shell to protect the connection part and shield the noise. If the sheath is cracked or damaged, the noise shielding performance will decrease, and the image will produce noise, which will cause clinical errors.
It is also inconvenient for ultrasound diagnosis.
Poor connector plug and the system connected plug have poor contact, which will cause the image quality to deteriorate severely, it will not work.
Cautions when using the probe
Attention should be paid to the probe:
1, temperature
2, humidity
3, environment (cloth, paper, and personal)
4, coupling agent (pay attention to quality to prevent corrosion)
5. Anti-mouse and cockroach
Attention of ultrasound equipment:
1. Power supply: The voltage is within the specified plus or minus 10, plus a clean regulated power supply, and an independent power supply
2, regular soil blowing (anti-short circuit)
Replace the probe: the host must be frozen or shut down
