A linear array transducer contains a row of piezoelectric elements arranged in a straight line along a flat surface. When activated, these elements produce parallel ultrasound beams that create a rectangular-shaped image with a wide near field. This design makes linear arrays ideal for imaging superficial structures such as blood vessels, tendons, muscles, thyroid, breast, and nerves. They typically operate at higher frequencies (7 to 15 MHz or more), providing excellent resolution for structures close to the skin surface. The trade-off is limited depth penetration, which is why curved or phased array transducers are preferred for deeper abdominal or cardiac imaging.
Sonography Term