Older ultrasound technology did use physical lenses to focus the sound waves. However, modern ultrasound machines primarily employ digital antenna array techniques instead.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Traditional Ultrasound Technology: Lenses for Focusing
- How it worked: Early ultrasound transducers utilized physical lenses to converge the ultrasound beam to a specific focal point. Think of it like how a magnifying glass focuses sunlight.
- Limitation: These lenses had a fixed focal length, meaning they could only focus at one particular depth.
Modern Ultrasound Technology: Digital Antenna Array
- How it works: Contemporary ultrasound transducers use multiple piezoelectric elements. By precisely timing the emission of ultrasound pulses from these elements and the reception of echoes, the ultrasound machine can electronically steer and focus the beam.
- Benefits:
- Variable Focus: Digital antenna arrays allow the user to adjust the focal depth dynamically, providing better image quality at different depths.
- Beam Steering: The beam can be steered without physically moving the transducer, enabling imaging from different angles.
Summary
While older ultrasound technology employed physical lenses, modern systems utilize digital antenna array techniques for beam focusing and steering, offering greater flexibility and control.
