Number 122 Uses of Ultrasound Humans can hear sound across a wide range of frequencies, typically from 20 to 20,000 Hertz (waves per second). Younger people can usually hear even higher pitched sounds, possibly up to 22,000Hz, Ultrasound is simply sound that is of too a high frequency for ‘humans to hear, Many animals can hear ultrasound and we can detect it electronically, ‘The only difference between sound and ultrasound is frequency. The definition of ultrasound is based on the hearing range of humans. Ultrasound has @ variety of medical and industrial uses and is commonly used in the fishing industry. Several different types of ‘animals, including bats, whales, dolphins, porpoises and two species of bitds, use it for navigation and feeding.We will look at the ‘production and use of ultrasound by humans and animals. How do humans produce ultrasound? We must use artificial means ‘as we cannot produce such sounds naturally! We use a group of ‘materials that have plezoelectrie properties. A voltage (potential difference) can be generated across a material by squeezing or stretching it (applying mechanical stress). => [cee ee 1) squeezing the material produces voltage produces the opposite voltage Plezoslectric Piezoelectric material : material Piezoelectric rater 3) applyinga voltageinone direction, the material contracts 3) applyinga voltage inthe ‘oppasite direction, the ‘mateialexpands ‘The reverse is also true; you can make the material change shape by applying a potential difference across it. The material will expand when a pd is applied in one direction and contract when the opposite ppd is applied. Introduce a rapidly altemating pd and the material expands and contracts rapidly. Ideally, you need to cause vibrations atthe resonant frequency for the material, This gives large amplitude vibrations which ean pass through to any connecting material. To produce ultrasound, shape your piezoelectric material so the resonant frequency is well above 20,0082. ‘A material which can produce mechanical vibrations (and therefore sound) from an applied electrical voltage is known as a transducer: it can convert between different forms of energy. Quartz is one example of a piezoelectric material, often used in clocks and watches due to the precise frequency produces when a voltage is applied. ‘More commonly for medical and industrial uses is lead zirconium ‘Exam Hint: learn the definition of a transducer: a device that can convert between forms of energy for a useful output, e.g. a measurement. Now we know how ultrasound is produced artificially, but how is this signal used? -Most uses of ultrasound involve sending a signal which reflects from a distant object and this echo is detected. ‘The time difference between the emitted pulse and the received echo tells us how far the sound has travelled, giving us a distance ‘measurement, ‘Many ships use an echo sounder for sea-depth measurement, A sound is emitted, reflects at the sea bed and the echo is detected. ‘The time difference, taken with the speed of sound in sea water, tells us the distance to the sea bed. Why use ultrasound? A ship, particularly the engine, is quite noisy. Echo-sounding uses a 30,000Hz frequency, far higher than-ship noise which avoids any ‘confusion. The other benefit is that these very high frequency ‘waves are not diffracted much and they Keep to a tight beam: preventing energy loss and allowing a clear echo. Fishing ships ‘ean also use ultrasound echo location to detect shoals of fish. oe @ a resound transducer emitted pulse reflected pul Example calculation ‘A ship emits an ultrasound pulse and receives the echo 0.43 seconds, later. What is the depth of the sea at this point? Assume the speed ff sound in water is 150m peed x Time Distance = 1500m/s x 0.438, Distance = 645m or 0,65km However, the ultrasound travels from the ship to the sea bed AND BACK. The sea is actually 645m /2 = 322.5m deep! ‘Exam Hint: Do not forget that ultrasound distance ‘measurement relies on ECHOES. The ultrasound pulse travels TWICE as far the required distance measurement, so divide by wo. nitrate (PZT).122, Uses of Ultrasound Physics Factsheet Ee Defect detection Ultrasound is also commonly used for detecting flaws inside materials without having to cut them apart: non-destructive evaluation. Once a metal bar has been cast, there could be an internal flaw, a gap where the material is weaker. Depending on the purpose, this could cause serious problems. An ultrasound transducer is placed against the material with a jlly-like material to allow the sound waves to pass easily into the bar. Only one signal should be detected: the reflection from the end of the bar. Another signal could indicate a flaw, reflecting some sound waves within the bar 1) Pulses of high frequency sound waves are produced by the piezoelectric material and pass into metal bar few { % lll Newly produced metal bar utasound emiter and detector jeroslectic ate 2) Some reflection occurs when the ultrasound passes through the flaw fyw alte Newly produced metal bar uteasound emer and detector [pevocletric maledal 3) An echo is detected by the ultrasound transducer. The remaining ultrasound pulse bas now reflected from the end of. the metal bar 7 tH t Newly produced metal bar ultrasound emitter and detector ofp pievectesise material 4) ‘The ultrasound transducer detects two signals, one from the flaw and one from the end of the material ‘echo from law — echo from end of {EY __| Example calculation: Non-destructive testing is carried out on a steel bar. ‘The speed of sound in steel is approximately $100m/s, ‘Two ultrasound echoes are detected, after 0.0021 and 0.0034 seconds, How long is the bar ‘and where is the flaw? Jt must take longer for the ultrasound to reach the end of the bar, o (0,0034s is the time taken to travel the length of the whole bar AND BACK, Distance = speed x time Distance = 5100m/s x 0.00348, Distance = 17.34m ‘The bar must be 17.34m /2 =: .67m long ‘The time for the ultrasound to reach the flaw and travel BACK is 0.00215. Distance = speed X time = $100nv/s x 0.00215 = 10.71m "The distance to the flaw must be 10.71m /2= 5.36m from the sensor, ‘Medical uses 1.Physiotherapy ‘High intensity pulses of ultrasound can be used for physiotherapy. ‘The heat generated in tissue can help alleviate muscle aches, For ‘medical imaging, much lower intensity ultrasound radiation is used. ‘There are several advantages for using ultrasound in medical diagnoses. During pregnancy, the foetus is very sensitive to fonising radiation like x-rays and the risk of harm to the unborn baby is high. This is basically because the foetus is undergoing a rapid cell division and growth which could be disturbed by x-rays, causing foetal abnormalities. Another major advantage of ultrasound is that ANY density change causes some reflection. So quite subtle differences between tissue types can be detected via ultrasound whereas an x-ray would be insensitive to the differences. This ‘means that ultrasound has a wide range of uses for pregnancy ‘alone: finding the size of the foetus and therefore time of pregnancy, detecting a foetal heartbeat, the sex of the baby, physical ‘abnormalities and more. 2. Foetal sean When ultrasound is used to examine a foetus, the ultrasound transducer is usually placed against the woman's abdomen. ‘The method is essentially similar tothe distance ranging methods discussed so far but in ‘practice is far more complex. The transducer emits ultrasound pulses. ‘These pass through to the abdomen of the pregnant ‘woman. A jelly-lke liquid is used to ensure ‘most of the wave passes into the patient ‘Without this, most of the wave would reflect from the skin due to the large density difference between tissue and air. Reflections occur at each tissue density change throughout the body and foetus so getting a good angle is essential. ‘The reflected pulses are received by the piezoelectric ultrasound transducer. This signal is amplified and passed to a computer where significant processing is required to present an image on the screen for diagnosis Utrasound rechniques hhave improved: 3D imaging 3.Blood flow Doppler ultrasound is also an essential medical tool. ‘The Doppler effect is noticeable when a fire engine drives past. As the vehicle drives towards you, the siren sounds high pitched. As it passes yyou and moves away, it sounds lower pitched. In the same way, ‘ultrasound is affected by the fluid flow in, for example, blood vessels. If the blood is moving away from the transducer, the reflected signal {s lower frequency than it should have been. Ifthe blood is moving towards the transducer, the reflected signal is higher frequency than it would otherwise have been. The shift in frequency tells us hhow fast the blood is flowing and is useful for any cardiovascular diagnosis. No Doppler shift indicates litte or no blood flow, which ‘would require immediate treatment. 10,000 KHZ 10,0067 KHZ received Fransmited asoundsigaat: Siena ood owing Urasound ood flowing towards from iansdveer signal transducer ————"122, Uses of Ultrasound Physics Factsheet 4, Other medical uses ‘Medical uses of ultrasound also include echo-cardiography, where the ultrasound is used to study the beating heart, essential for determining the correct function of each chamber, blood vessel ot artery. Exam Hint: Be prepared to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different medical techniques, e.g. ulirasound ‘and x-rays for diagnosing foetal abnormalities or heart disease. ‘Natural ultrasound ‘A variety of animals use ultrasound for finding their way and catching prey. Ultrasound is used as an alternative to sight in low light ‘conditions: either dark or murky. Some species of bat emit ultrasound in the larynx, just as humans ourselves produce audible sounds. ‘These sounds are emitted, usually through the mouth, Different species of bat produce different frequency sounds, ranging from 14,000 to 100,000 Hz. Therefore, small fraction is audible to humans as a high-pitched click. Bats usually emit about 10-20 clicks per second, using ultrasound pulses to identify objects as well as their position and distance. Bats have TWO detectors: their ears, There is a time difference between for the reflected pulse to arrive at each ‘ear which helps identify location as well as distance. rn a ens We Reflectedsignal reaches one ear before the ‘other, indicating direction Whales, dolphins and porpoises have probably the most sophisticated form of ultrasound echolocation. ‘These are all ‘mammals and have evolved from land based mammals around 50 million years ago. The shape of dolphins and porpoises have evolved to make these creatures very effective at emitting and receiving ultrasound. Dolphins produce all sound in a region just behind the bulge at the front of their head, the equivalent of our larynx and passes into the melon. ‘The melon is the fatty bulge of the forehead of the dolphin and allows dolphins to focus and direct their clicks of ultrasound. They receive the echo vibrations from ‘objects through their long jaw bones and these vibrations are passed backwards to the inner ear of the dolphin, ‘One area of interest is the ability of, dolphins to detect and treat human illness or disabilities. There are some anecdotes, about dolphins apparently locating tumours in swimmers, but whilst their Ff highly efficient ultrasound could possibly ‘function inthis way, there is little evidence {0 suppor it Several organisations encourage swimming with dolphins for a range of ilinesses and there is some evidence of depression being alleviated by swimming with dolphins. It is not yet known whether this is because of some special ability of dolphins or the well recognised benefit of being around any animal generally. It is also believed that dolphin and porpoises may use large amplitude pulses of ultrasound to physically stun prey, although this is still inconclusive. Practice Questions 1. Give your definition of ultrasound, 2. Define a transducer. 3. Deseribe, in detail, how ultrasound is artificially produced using piezoelectric materials 4, State two industrial uses of ultrasound and explain the relevant advantages. 5. Describe two medical uses of ultrasound. 6. What is the advantage of bats having two ultrasound receivers (cars)? 7 Sketch a diagram and explain how dolphins produce and receive ultrasound for echolocation. 8 A fishing ship receives ultrasound echoes 0.24s and 0.388 after ‘transmission. How deep is the shoal of fish and the sea-bed? ‘An ultrasound transducer receives an echo after 8 x 10% and 1.6 x 104s during a pregnancy scan, Approximating the speed of sound inal tissue as 2500nn/ and assuming that the signal is ig only from the head of the foetus, how large is its 10. Calculate the wavelength of the following ultrasound signals in sir 22,000H,50,000Hz, 100kF, 1OMHz. The speed of sound in air is around 340m/s. 11, Calculate the wavelength of a 20MHz, ultrasound signal in air ‘and water. The speed of sound in water is 1500m/s. Numerical answers 8, 180m and 285m 9.0m 10. 1.5 10%m, 6.8% 10m, 3.4x 10°m, 3.4% 104m, AL, 1.7 10%m, 7.5% 105m ‘Actnowledgement: ‘Ths Phys Fothet wat researched and writen by Jeremy Cater The Curcalan PresBark Howse, 105 King See Wellington. Stropsive, TE! 2NU Pyscs Facies ay be copied ro charge by fenching lor dots provided har ther soho! reir suberber opr of these Foner may be reproduced. stored a revi tem. tenamted, In anyother form or by ay eter ease without he ror permis of the pbisee ISSN 13915136 — 2