From GE Healthcare.;
'Vivid 7 Dimension, a premier cardiovascular ultrasound system from GE Healthcare, expands on the strength of a powerful imaging platform to offer new, innovative technology of dimensional proportions.'

(ESWL) Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a special use of kidney ultrasound, where high intensity focused ultrasound pulses are used to break up calcified stones in the kidney, bladder, or urethra. Pulses of sonic waves pulverize dense renal stones, which are then more easily passed through the ureter and out of the body in the urine. The ultrasound energy at high acoustic power levels is focused to a point exactly on the stone requiring an ultrasound scanning gel for maximum acoustic transmission.
Air bubbles in the ultrasound couplant, regardless of their size, degrade the performance of Lithotripsy and have the following effect:
Air bubbles smaller that 1/4 wavelength cause scattering of the sound waves as omni directional scatterers and less acoustic energy reaches the focal point. The result is less acoustic power at the focal point to disintegrate the kidney stone.
Air bubbles larger than 1/4 wavelength act as reflectors and deflects the acoustic energy off in a different direction. These results in less acoustic energy at the focal point.
Microbubbles dispersed throughout the ultrasound couplant layer change the average acoustic impedance of the gel layer (which reduces the total transmitted energy) and, due to refraction, change the focal point.

A vaginal probe is a small ultrasound transducer (e.g. a biplane probe) that is inserted directly into the vagina. A sterile cover is slipped over the handheld transducer (also handle or probe), which is then covered with lubricating gel and placed in the vagina.
This technique produces a sharp image, not only because of the close proximity to the uterus, but also because this transducer is more sensitive.

A vaginal transducer is a small ultrasound probe that is inserted directly into the vagina. The vaginal transducer is used in gynecological ultrasound scans and has a long and slender shape to fit into the vagina. A cover is used to ensure sterility, and the transducer is lubricated with a water-soluble gel.

See also Transvaginal Sonography.

From ESAOTE S.p.A.;
'The 260 Corvus is perfectly suited for multiple applications in black & white ultrasound. The digital console system is standard equipped with three probe connectors for a choice of various linear, convex, annular and annular phased array transducers. The 260 Corvus can be fully integrated into a digital hospital network (PACS) using the optional DICOM® compatible ImageLab™ module.'