IU22 X7-2T Matrix TEE Ultrasonic Transducer Probe Sonography

Knowledge point
Implement pre or post-exam inspection
A good way to extend your ultrasound machine lifetime, and avoid expensive repair or maintenance costs, is to take a few seconds to inspect it prior to your exam. The most fragile part is certainly the transducer. Look for cracks or swellings on or near the lens. This membrane is made of piezoelectric crystals that emit ultrasonic waves. The waves are then received back by the transducer and processed by the CPU, forming images. If the crystals get damaged, it results in poor image quality. Depending on the severity and the location of the damage, you can potentially end up with dark strips or degraded images. This is an issue for you and your team as diagnostics may be biased by bad images.
The next part you want to check is the cable and connector portion. They carry the signal from the crystals to the CPU. If they get altered your image will suffer too. After countless disinfection cycles or hours in contact with gel, some plastic parts will turn yellow and get more rigid. This may cause cracks and tears. Also, the connector is composed of dozens of small pins that can easily break if mishandled. Be sure to check them too.