What are the fundamental principles of ultrasound imaging based on?

The fundamental principles of ultrasound imaging are based on the piezoelectric effect. This phenomenon occurs when certain materials generate an electrical charge in response to applied mechanical stress, and conversely, when an electrical charge is applied to these materials, they undergo deformation.

In the context of ultrasound imaging, piezoelectric crystals, typically made of materials like lead zirconate titanate, are used in transducers. When these crystals receive an electrical signal, they vibrate and produce sound waves that propagate through tissues. When sound waves reflect off structures within the body and return to the transducer, the crystals again convert the mechanical energy of the returning waves into electrical signals, which are then processed to create images.

Understanding the piezoelectric effect is crucial because it underpins the very operation of ultrasound equipment. It allows for both the generation of sound waves and the reception of the echoes necessary for creating diagnostic images.