transducer function is to produce the ranges of frequencies, 2 MHz to 18 MHz, necessary to see the soft tissue of the body. The human ear’s audible range is about 20 kHz; therefore, the high frequency sounds are undetectable by the human ear. The necessary frequency range it determined by certain factors. These factors are the shape of the transducer, the types of lens attached at the end of the transducer, or the knobology of the ultrasound scanner. The lower the frequency, the deeper the waves penetrate the tissue but at the cost of a less defined image shape. On the other hand, if the frequency is higher the wave tends not to travel as deep but the image is sharper in resolution. The frequency required for the thyroid falls in the high range and as a result of the position of the thyroid the image produced is sharper. The sound wave produced by the transducer travels through the body and is reflected by the body’s tissues. The technology is similar to sonar ranging is used to detect submarines, obstacles and schools of fish underwater. The returning sound wave is called an echo. The echo vibrates the transducer which then sends the wave as electrical pulses to the ultrasonic scanner. Furthermore, the ultrasound scanner is
measured by the scanner. First, it uses the transducer’s viewed. frequency pitch as one of determinations of how the tissue will be Second, the scanner measures the time it takes the echo to return to the transducer. Lastly, the factor use is the strength of the sound. The strength of the echo determines the shade of brightness the scanner will display as an image. Strong echoes will be shown as a white shade. Whereas, a black shade displays weak echoes and all other strengths fall in-between as a gray shade. The scanners calculate all the information together using Fourier transform, a calculus mathematical property (frequency and time domains), and it sends it to a computer. The computer stores the information and then broadcasts the image on a digital screen. The image is seen as a gray-scale image in realtime. The role that the thyroid has in a person’s overall health is significant. Therefore, it is important to know if you fall into a high risk group based on family health history and profession. Early detection is vital to a healthy life. Thyroid cancer does not have to be a death sentence. If detected and treated early, one can prevent from becoming an ASC statistics. Screening and treatment may lead to long healthy life.
responsible for gathering all of the information it receives from the transducer. The electrical pulses transmitted by the transducer are