Piezoelectric describes the ability of certain crystalline materials to convert electrical energy into mechanical vibrations (sound waves) and to convert returning sound waves back into electrical signals. This property is the fundamental operating principle of every ultrasound transducer. The piezoelectric elements, typically made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) or similar synthetic ceramics, vibrate when an electrical voltage is applied, generating the ultrasound pulse that travels into the body. When returning echoes strike the same elements, the mechanical vibrations produce electrical signals that the machine processes into an image. Understanding piezoelectricity is foundational to grasping how ultrasound technology works.
Sonography Term