Present State of an Ultrasonic Cross-Section Procedure with Rapid Image Rate

The scan unit attains a rapid-image rate by rotating the sound source at a frequency of about 16 Hz in the focal point of an acoustic cylindrical paraboloid mirror. By this arrangement a scanning beam is obtained that moves with a speed of about 2 m/s transverse to the direction of propagation of the ultrasound. This scanning speed permits the buildup of a sectional image within about 60 ms with an image frequency of about 16 Hz. As the scanning procedure is automatic and not manual, a high degree of objectivity is obtained with respect to imaging of contours and particularly of inhomogeneous tissues. The above-mentioned image frequency also permits visualization of kinetic processes inside the body; these can be viewed on the fluorescent screen or filmed.