The most common use for ultrasonic transducers in the medical field is for ultrasonic imaging. The imaging is created using both the time of flight of the ultrasonic signal and the Doppler shift of the reflected sound to determine the distance to the targeted internal organ and its movement (if any). Ultrasonic imaging involves the creation of ultrasonic sound waves using a piezoelectric transducer and also the conversion of the reflected ultrasound waves into an electric signal using a similar piezoelectric transducer (or often even the same piezoelectric transducer). 

Another growing use for ultrasound is in ultrasonic surgery. Ultrasonic surgery is minimally invasive and precise enough to allow a surgeon to remove diseased or damaged tissue without affecting surrounding areas. This results in faster recovery times and improved patient outcomes.

APC has been designing and building PZT-based piezoelectric transducers and other components used in medical devices for over thirty years. For more information about medical applications of ultrasonic transducers read our blog post concerning medical ultrasonic transducers. 

APC materials well suited for applications in the medical industry include APC 850 and APC 855 for sensing or imaging and APC 840 / APC 880 for power applications including ultrasonic scalpels, dental descalers, cauterizing devices, HiFU, lipotripsy etc.  Please contact APC today to discuss your medical application with our team of dedicated engineers!