transducer
Ultrasound probe — converts electrical signal to acoustic waves and back. Piezoelectric crystal stacks (conventional) or silicon CMUT arrays (Butterfly iQ class) generate the acoustic pulse and detect the returning echo. Probe-element count, geometry, and frequency range define what the probe can image.
Probe types:
- Curved (convex) array — abdominal, OB / GYN, general radiology.
- Linear array — vascular, MSK, small parts, breast.
- Phased array — cardiac, neonatal, pediatric.
- Matrix array — live 3D / 4D, TEE.
- Endocavity — transvaginal, transrectal, TEE.
- CMUT / silicon — Butterfly iQ class.
Why it matters to buyers: Probe set drives ultrasound cart value more than the cart itself. A premium cart with tired probes is a worse buy than a mid cart with fresh probes. The probe inventory is the practical clinical capability — a refurb without the right probes is gutted at clinical-use level. See iU22 C5-1 / C8-5 / L12-5 / S5-1 / X6-1 for canonical iU22-line examples.
Why it matters to engineers: Refurbishment is 60–80% cheaper than replacement and usually returns probes to factory spec. Lens damage from drops is the dominant failure mode across all probe types; cardiac (phased-array) probes wear faster from cardiology-program duty cycle. Connector and cable inspection at every probe swap.