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Ultrasound Therapy Aerosol Production

This method involves irradiating the tissue Ultrasound makes it possible to nebulize
with ultrasonic waves by means of an ultra- liquids without increasing the pressure or
sonic transmitter. On the one hand, mechan- the temperature, a fact which is of crucial
ical, longitudinal waves generate vibrations importance particularly for sensitive sub-
in the tissue, on the other, they convert part stances such medicines.
of the ultrasonic energy into heat.
The process is similar to high-frequency
Typical working frequencies are in the range ultrasonic cleaning – a piezoceramic disk
0.8 to over 3 MHz, both continuous wave fixed in the liquid container and oscillating
and pulsed wave ultrasonic techniques in resonance generates high-intensity ultra-
being used in the application. The vibration sonic waves. The drops of liquid are created
amplitudes transmitted are in the range near the surface by capillary waves.
around 1 µm. The diameter of the aerosol droplets is
determined by the frequency of the ultra-
Different effects are achieved depending on sonic waves: The higher the frequency, the
the energy of the radiation. High-energy smaller the droplets.
shock waves are used to destroy kidney
stones, for example. Low-energy shock For direct atomization, where the piezo
waves effect a type of micro-massage, and element oscillating at high frequency is in
are used for the treatment of bones and direct contact with the liquid, the piezo sur-
tissue and in physiotherapy among other face is specially treated against aggressive
things. substances.

In cosmetic applications ultrasonophoresis,


i.e. the introduction of drugs into the skin, is
becoming increasingly important.

Ultrasonic Sensors:
Piezo Elements in Metrology
Flow Rate Measurement The measurement of the propagation time
In many areas the measurement of flow is based on the transmitting and receiving of
rates is the basis for processes operating in ultrasonic pulses on alternating sides in the
a controlled way. In modern building direction of flow and in the opposite
services, for example, the consumption of direction. Here, two piezo transducers
water, hot water or heating energy is operating as both transmitter and receiver
recorded and the supply as well as the billing are arranged in a sound section diagonally
is thus controlled. to the direction of flow.

In industrial automation and especially in the The Doppler effect is used to evaluate the
chemical industry, volume measurement phase and frequency shift of the ultrasonic
can replace the weighing of substance waves which are scattered or reflected by
quantities. particles of liquid. The frequency shift
between the emitted wave front and the
Not only the flow velocity, but also the reflected wave front received by the same
concentration of certain substances can be piezo transducer is a measure of the flow
detected. velocity. 35

PIEZOTECHNOLOGY

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