What is the primary purpose of backing material in transducers?

The backing material, also known as damping material, in an ultrasound transducer serves to dampen the vibrations of the piezoelectric crystal.

This damping reduces the number of cycles in each pulse, leading to a shorter spatial pulse length (SPL).

Shorter SPL improves axial resolution by allowing the system to better distinguish between two closely spaced structures along the axis of the ultrasound beam.

Improved axial resolution is crucial for producing clearer, more detailed images.References:

ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation guidelines on transducer design and the role of backing material in image quality.