In physics, particularly relevant to medical ultrasound, beam divergence describes the spreading out of an ultrasound beam as it travels deeper into tissue. This natural phenomenon causes the beam to widen beyond its focal zone, leading to a decrease in acoustic intensity and reduced lateral resolution in the far field. Understanding beam divergence is crucial for optimizing image quality, as it impacts the clarity and detail of deeper anatomical structures.
Effective medical ultrasound imaging requires sonographers to account for beam divergence by adjusting parameters like focus and gain. While unavoidable, its effects can be minimized to ensure accurate diagnoses, especially when examining structures at greater depths.
