Ultrasound transducer. Computer artwork of a hand holding an ultrasound transducer. The transducer can be used as a diagnostic tool for foetal scanning, diagnosing organ diseases and detecting blood flow rates. The wave pattern coming from the transducer (at lower centre) represents sound waves of very high frequency (ultrasonic waves). When used as diagnostic tool, the transducer is placed onto the patient's skin. A small piezoelectric device in the scanner head generates an ultrasound signal. The ultrasound is reflected by different amounts by different tissues. The reflected signals are picked up by the scanner head and processed to create the ultrasound image.