Transducer Position Research Articles

The Perception of the Diaphragm with Ultrasound: Always There Yet Overlooked?

Diaphragm ultrasound makes it possible to diagnose diaphragmatic atrophy and dysfunction. Important indications include unclear dyspnea; diaphragmatic elevation; assessment of diaphragm dysfunction in pulmonary, neuromuscular and neurovascular diseases; and in critically ill patients before noninvasive and mechanical ventilation and follow-up of diaphragm thickness and function during mechanical ventilation with potential prediction of prolonged weaning. In patients with respiratory insufficiency and potential diaphragm dysfunction, it is possible to objectify the contribution of diaphragm dysfunction. In addition, assessment of diaphragmatic hernias, tumors and diaphragmatic dysfunction in COVID-19 and diaphragmatic ultrasound in sports medicine have been described. This narrative review includes the sonomorphology of the diaphragm, standardization of ultrasonographic investigation with transducer positions and ultrasound techniques, normal findings and diagnostic criteria for pathological findings. The correct sonographic measurement, calculation and evaluation can ultimately influence further therapeutic procedures for the patient suffering from diaphragm dysfunction in various diseases.

Comprehensive Echocardiographic Protocol for Pigs with Emphasis on Diastolic Function: Advantages over MRI Assessment.

Swine are increasingly utilized in cardiovascular research due to their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans, particularly for studying diastolic dysfunction. While MRI offers excellent structural imaging, echocardiography provides superior real-time assessment of diastolic parameters. To address the lack of standardized methods and reduce variability across studies, we present a comprehensive guide for performing echocardiography in Yorkshire pigs, detailing anatomical considerations, equipment requirements, and technical approaches. We describe systematic approaches for obtaining and optimizing right parasternal long and short-axis views, apical four-chamber, and subcostal imaging windows, with specific attention to anatomical variations from human cardiac orientation and standard clinical transducer positioning. These tomographic views enable comprehensive assessment of systolic and diastolic function, including ventricular volumes, wall thicknesses, chamber dimensions, ejection fraction, and Doppler measurements of blood flow and tissue velocities. This standardized methodology for echocardiographic images acquisition enhances data reliability in cardiovascular pig models, improving the interpretation of preclinical study results and strengthening translational research outcomes. The protocol also provides consistency for veterinary applications, making echocardiography a preferred modality for longitudinal studies in this valuable translational model.

Insights into cavitation enhancement: Numerical simulation and spectrum analysis of a novel dual-frequency octagonal ultrasonic reactor.

Ultrasonic reactors, widely applied in process intensification, face limitations in their industrial application due to a lack of theoretical support for their structural design and optimization, particularly concerning the uniformity of the cavitation zone. Addressing this gap, our study introduces a novel approach to design a multi-frequency octagonal ultrasonic reactor of capacity 9.5 L through numerical simulation and spectrum analysis. The effects of reactor shape, transducer position, and multi-frequency ultrasound interaction on the sound pressure distribution in the reactor were simulated, employing a linear wave equation that accounts for the inhomogeneous distribution of bubbles. The accuracy of sound pressure amplitude predictions has been validated through a multi-frequency simulation method, exhibiting good consistency with experimental data. The results revealed that an octagonal structure with transducers positioned at the bottom and sides enhances the uniformity and distribution of the cavitation area compared to traditional rectangular designs. Notably, the combination of 20 and 40kHz frequencies at a driving pressure of 3bar significantly enhances cavitation rates to 69.2%, surpassing the single frequency of 40kHz by an increase of 16.5%. The enhanced cavitation rate can be attributed to the dual-frequency operation, which facilitates larger bubble radii, along with higher collapse temperatures and pressures, as determined through bubble dynamics calculations. Moreover, spectrum analysis method enables energy separation, showing that the introduction of a 40kHz transducer into a 20kHz field markedly strengthens both steady and transient cavitation intensities. These findings offer practical insights for their structural design and optimization, paving the way for their broader industrial application.

Physics-guided neural network for structural health monitoring with lamb waves through boundary reflection elimination

Lamb-wave-based structural health monitoring (SHM) technology for damage location in plate-like structures relies on the postprocessing of captured signals after interacting with damage. Traditional methods typically leverage the time of flight (ToF) of scattered waves from damage. However, these methods are prone to reflected waves from structural boundaries which mix with scattered waves from damage. This is a vital problem faced by most ToF-based detection methods, which seriously narrows the inspection area. To tackle this problem, a machine learning framework, consisting of a multiscale spatiotemporal (MSST) fusion network, is proposed to facilitate the accurate extraction of the ToF of scattered waves through eliminating the influence of boundary reflections. Experiments are conducted with the time-domain Lamb wave signals recorded by a tactically designed piezoelectric sensor array on a 2-mm-thick Al-6061 plate. A pair of circle magnets is attached onto the plate as the wave reflectors. Through step-by-step moving of the magnets in the predefined grids, the corresponding Lamb wave signals are measured to construct a database. An MSST is subsequently designed to minimize the error between estimated and theoretical ToFs, with wavelet coefficients of the signals and transducer position as inputs. The model is trained with the Adam algorithm where 80% of samples in the database are used for training and the rest for evaluation. The final validations are conducted with the scatters off the predefined grids. Results demonstrate that the designed neural network architecture can effectively eliminate boundary reflections and enable precise ToF extraction of the scattered waves from damage. This allows the enlargement of the detection area and presents a promising and useful tool for enhancing the detection performance of existing SHM methods in complex structures.

Clinical Evaluation of an Electronic Guidance System for Optimizing the Ultrasound Screening for Developmental Hip Dysplasia in Newborns.

Background: Graf ultrasound screening is considered an established method for early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Although characterized by a high degree of standardization to allow for good reproducibility of results, examination-related factors may still affect sonographic measurements. The relative tilt angle between the hip and the probe is a potential pitfall as it significantly influences sonographic measurements and consequently classification of DDH according to Graf. Objectives: Evaluation of an electronic guidance system developed to reduce relative tilt angles and increase reliability and comparability in ultrasound screening of DDH. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five newborns were examined using a prototype guidance system, which tracks the position of the transducer and the pelvis to calculate the relative tilt angles. Two ultrasound images were obtained, one conventionally and the other one using the guidance system. Subsequently, relative roll and pitch angles and sonographic measurements were determined and analyzed. Results: The relative inclination angles in the conventional group ranged from -12.6° to 14.3° (frontal plane) and -23.8° to 32.5° (axial plane). vs. -3.7° to 3.0° and -3.2° to 4.5° in the guidance system group. The variances were significantly lower in the guidance system-assisted group for both planes (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The optimized transducer position showed significant effects and consequently significantly reduced alpha angles were observed (p = 0.001, and p = 0.003). Conclusions: The guidance system allowed a significant reduction in the relative tilt angles, supporting optimal positioning of the transducer, resulting in significant effects on Graf sonographic measurements. This technique shows great potential for enhancing the reproducibility and reliability of ultrasound screening for DDH.

Design of an ultrasonic flowmeter using a cow horn-shaped structure and secretary bird optimization algorithm-back propagation neural network algorithm

A novel dual-channel ultrasonic flowmeter based on the time-difference method is proposed, aiming at solving the measurement error due to the installation angle of the transducers and improving the measurement accuracy. The angle error is eliminated by optimizing the ultrasonic propagation path so that it is parallel to the fluid flow direction. The pipeline design is optimized to reduce the pressure loss to ensure high-precision measurements at different flow rates. In addition, in order to solve the measurement accuracy problem caused by the transducer position, the measurement results of the two channels are fused by Secretary Bird Optimization Algorithm-Back Propagation Neural network, which reduces the error of the measurements and improves the overall accuracy of the measurements. The results of system error analysis and uncertainty evaluation show that the calibrated flowmeter has a maximum relative error of 0.6% and a maximum repeatability of 0.7%, which proves its reliability and effectiveness in fluid measurement.

Polyvinylidene fluoride transducer shape optimization for the characterization of anisotropic materials.

In the context of ultrasonic determination of mechanical properties, it is common to use oblique incident waves to characterize fluid-immersed anisotropic samples. The lateral displacement of the ultrasonic field owing to leaky guided wave phenomena poses a challenge for data inversion because beam spreading is rarely well represented by plane wave models. In this study, a finite beam model based on the angular spectrum method was developed to estimate the influence of the transducer shape and position on the transmitted signals. Additionally, anisotropic solids were considered so that the beam skewing effect was contemplated. A small-emitter large-receiver configuration was chosen, and the ideal shape and position of the receiving transducer were obtained through a meta-heuristic optimization approach with the goal of achieving a measurement system that sufficiently resembles plane wave propagation. A polyvinylidene fluoride receiver was fabricated based on the findings and tested in three cases: a single-crystal silicon wafer, a lightly anisotropic stainless-steel plate, and a highly anisotropic composite plate. Good agreement was found between the measurements and the plane wave model.

Ultrasonographic technique and appearance of the coelomic organs in crocodilians

IntroductionCrocodilians have significant ecological, conservational, and economic roles. They are also commonly raised for commercial purposes and kept as zoological specimens. Although ultrasonography has been used in zoological contexts for health assessments of crocodilians, published studies on a detailed ultrasonography protocol and ultrasonographic anatomy are lacking. This study aimed to establish a standardized ultrasonography protocol and pictorial reference of the ultrasonographic appearances of the coelomic organs of crocodilians.MethodsA total of 7 crocodilians comprising 4 different species were included in this study. The crocodilians were manually restrained and underwent a non-contrasted and contrasted computed tomography (CT) scan, followed by an ultrasonography (USG) examination. Ultrasound fusion imaging technique enabled greater confidence in establishing a clear organ localization and correlation between modalities by visualizing the same anatomy from the same view angle.ResultsThe heart, caudal vena cava, liver, fat body (steatotheca), spleen, stomach, duodenal loops, pancreas, kidneys, testes, ovaries and cloaca were visualized in all species. Longitudinal and transverse images of the coelomic structures were acquired when possible. The ultrasonographic characteristics of the coelomic organs, including transducer positioning, acoustic window and approach, shape, size, marginations, and echo pattern were documented.DiscussionThe findings of this study provided a useful ultrasonographic protocol and anatomical reference of the coelomic organs in crocodilians. Invaluable insights into the practicality and adequacy of ultrasonography in evaluating the coelomic structures of crocodilians as part of health assessment and disease diagnosis were also discussed.

Error Analysis and Correction of ADCP Attitude Dynamics under Platform Swing Conditions

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) on a platform generates rotational linear velocity due to dynamic factors in attitude changes, leading to measurement errors in vessel and water flow velocities. This study derives and analyzes these errors, focusing on factors such as emission angle, transducer position, water depth, and measured depth, while also accounting for the variation in linear velocity and radial direction during each transmit–receive pulse cycle in the simulations. A method is proposed that introduces the concept of an equivalent radial radius to correct vessel and flow velocities, specifically designed for the common scenario where the ADCP is installed on the central longitudinal section of a vessel undergoing free roll motion. This method is suited for shallow water conditions without waves, with measurements taken vertically downward. It uses least squares fitting with an exponentially decaying sinusoidal model to process low-sampling-rate inclinometer data from the ADCP. This approach requires only the processing of measured data based on existing ADCP hardware, without the need for additional equipment. Field tests in a pool demonstrate that the proposed method significantly reduces vessel velocity errors, outperforming the traditional attitude static correction method.

Small changes in the transducer position cause a systematic change in cardiac output readings: implications for clinical practice.

To systematically evaluate the effect of small changes in transducer position on key hemodynamic variables including CO generated by 4th generation FloTrac software. After cardiac surgery, cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and stroke volume variation were measured with 4 generation Flotrac software. The transducer position was randomly placed at the midaxillary plane, 4cm higher than the midaxillary plane or 4cm lower than the midaxillary plane. Averages of three measurements were used. Data was available from 20 patients. Cardiac output increased from 4.59L/min (± 0.92) to 4.78L/min (± 0.99) with the transducer position at the midaxillary plane to 4cm higher than the midaxillary plane, and cardiac output decreased to 4.43L/min (± 0.90) with the transducer 4cm lower than midaxillary plane (P < 0.001). On the relative scale, CO increased 4.1% (95% CI 3.1-5.0) when comparing the higher transducer level with the midaxillary plane position, and CO decreased 3.4% (95% CI 2.4-4.4) when comparing the midaxillary plane position with the lower transducer level, correspondiong to changes in CO of ≈ 1% per 1cm change in transducer position. Mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance both changed significantly with transducer position (both P < 0.001), whereas no statistically or clinically significant effect was seen on stroke volume variation (P = 0.98). A four-centimeter change in vertical transducer position induced clinically significant changes in cardiac output measurements by 4th generation FloTrac software. Definitions of optimal cardiac output in goal-directed therapy algorithms require meticulous transducer adjustment and can only be used in the reference patient position.

Feasibility of Hologram-Assisted Bilateral Blood-Brain Barrier Opening in Non-Human Primates.

Focused ultrasound (FUS) and microbubbles facilitate blood-brain barrier opening (BBBO) noninvasively, transiently, and safely for targeted drug delivery. Unlike state-of-the-art approaches, in this study, we demonstrate for the first time the simultaneous, bilateral BBBO in non-human primates (NHPs) using acoustic holograms at caudate and putamen structures. The simple and low-cost system with a single-element FUS transducer and 3-D printed acoustic hologram was guided by neuronavigation and a robotic arm. The advantages of holograms are transcranial aberration correction, simultaneous multifocus and high localization, and target-independent transducer positioning, defining a promising alternative for time- and cost-efficient FUS procedures. Holograms were designed with the k-space method by time-reversal techniques. T1-weighted MRI was used for treatment planning, while the computed tomography (CT) scan provided the head tissues acoustic properties. For the BBBO procedure, a robotic arm allowed transducer positioning errors below 0.1 mm and 0.1°. Following positioning, 0.5-0.6-MPa, 513-kHz microbubble-enhanced FUS was applied for 4 min. For BBBO assessment, Post-FUS T1-weighted MRI was acquired, and contrast enhancement indicated bilateral gadolinium extravasation at both caudate or putamen structures. The two BBBO locations were separated by 13.13 mm with a volume of 91.81 mm3 in the caudate, compared with 9.40 mm with a volume of 124.52 mm3 in simulation, while they were separated by 21.74 mm with a volume of 145.38 mm3 in the putamen and compared with 22.32 mm with a volume of 156.42 mm3 in simulation. No neurological damage was observed through T2-weighted and susceptibility-weighted imaging. This study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of hologram-assisted neuronavigation-guided-FUS for BBBO in NHP, providing thus an avenue for clinical translation.

Towards examiner-independent reproducible abdominal ultrasound examinations

Abstract The proposed system aims at reproducibility in ultrasound follow-up examinations by storing the position of the ultrasound transducer in relation to acquired images. The system utilizes an electromagnetic tracking system. It includes a guidance feature to assist in placing the transducer correctly on the patient. Evaluation of the system involved technical accuracy tests on a phantom and accuracy tests on human subjects. The results showed that the technical accuracy of the system met the required criteria, but the transducer positioning error in realistic scenarios was above the threshold. Usability testing indicated potential benefits for medical training and provided suggestions for improving the user interface. Overall, the system shows promise for further development and can already be used for training ultrasound examinations.

Attenuation Tomography Using Low-Frequency Ultrasound for Thorax Imaging: Feasibility Study.

Low-frequency ultrasound can permeate human thorax and can be applied in functional imaging of the respiratory system. In this study, we investigate the transmission of low-frequency ultrasound through the human thorax and propose a waveform matching method to track the changes in the transmission signal during subject's respiration. The method's effectiveness is validated through experiments involving ten human subjects. Furthermore, the experimental findings indicate that the traveltime of the first-arrival signal remains consistent throughout the respiratory cycle. Leveraging this observation, we introduce an algorithm for ultrasound thorax attenuation factor differential imaging. By computing the paths and energy variation of the first-arrival signal from the received waveform, the algorithm reconstructs the distribution of attenuation factor differences between two different thorax states, providing insights into the functional status of the respiratory system. Numerical experiments, using both normal thorax and defective thorax models, confirm the algorithm's feasibility and its robustness against noise, variations in transducer position and orientation. These results highlight the potential of low-frequency ultrasound for bedside, continuous monitoring of human respiratory system through functional imaging.

Damage detection method for square steel tube based on CS-NME algorithm via ultrasonic guided waves

The utilization of ultrasonic guided wave (UGW) technology has garnered considerable attention in non-destructive testing field, particularly for steel components. However, for square steel tubes with noncircular cross sections, this method encounters severer frequency dispersion, which hampers the accuracy of damage identification. To address this issue, the approach utilizing the normal mode expansion (NME) method combined with cuckoo search (CS) algorithm to develop a layout strategy for ultrasonic transducer position and length is proposed, which enables single mode excitation of UGW while reducing the interference from redundant clutter signals, thereby enhancing the accuracy of damage detection. The efficacy of the proposed approach is evaluated via numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. The results show that this method can significantly reduce the interference of other modes by optimizing the location and length of ultrasonic transducers, and successfully detect the hole and crack damage on the square steel tube.

How Surgical Positions Affect Cerebral Oxygenation

How Surgical Positions Affect Cerebral Oxygenation? This study investigates the use of cerebral oximetry in various surgical positions and its impact on cerebral oxygenation. We conducted a literature review through Medline, and Ebscohost, focusing on articles published until October 30, 2023. Our findings indicate that: • Cerebral oxygenation is affected by all surgical positions, with the most significant clinical impact observed in the seated position. • Maintaining cerebral autoregulation is crucial for preventing cerebral hypoxia or desaturation. Upholding a mean arterial pressure above 60 mmHg is essential for this purpose. • Anesthesia can negatively impact cerebral oxygenation by potentially impairing cerebral autoregulation. • Inhalation anesthetics may have a more beneficial effect on cerebral oxygenation compared to intravenous anesthetics. • The risk of cerebral desaturation increases in elderly patients and those with comorbidities. • Standardization of cerebral desaturation definitions is needed to better assess its relationship with postoperative complications. • The position of the blood pressure transducer can affect the accuracy of intraoperative monitoring. In the seated position, placing it at the level of the acoustic meatus provides a more precise assessment. Our study highlights the importance of considering the effects of different surgical positions on cerebral oxygenation. This knowledge can assist anesthesiologists in monitoring patients intraoperatively and potentially preventing postoperative neurological complications. Keywords: Cerebral oximetry, Beach chair, cerebral oxygenation, Prone, Near-infrared spectroscopy

Data-driven Parameterizable Generative Adversarial Networks for Synthetic Data Augmentation of Guided Ultrasonic Wave Sensor Signals

Detecting and characterizing hidden damages in composite materials like Fibre-Metal Laminates (FML) remains a challenge. Guided Ultrasonic Waves (GUW) or X-ray imaging are commonly used to detect these damages, but their interpretation remains limited. Data-driven predictor models can detect damages in structures using GUW time-dependent signals, but the training data lacks variance, quality, and sufficient coverage of the hyper-parameter space. Synthetic data augmentation is often the only solution to create robust and generalized damage predictor models. Synthetic sensor data can be generated using model-based, model-assisted, or model-free methods. However, computed GUW signals show poor reality conformance due to too much constraints and simplifications. Recent developments in Generative Adversarial (Neural) Networks (GAN), commonly driven by a random generation process [1], include deterministic style vectors to generate specific signal data, determining constraints such as damage size, position, transducer positions, material and environmental properties. These new architectures aim to reduce the impact of environmental changes on data-driven damage predictor models by using parameterizable synthetic data generation. We will elaborate these new architectures and discuss the possibilities and challenges of using such GAN models for data generation of US signals in GUW-based SHM applications, as originally proposed in [2]. We will have a focus on low-quality real measuring data used for training and composite materials (e.g., FML) with hidden damages, and show some preliminary results. [1] Karras et al. "A style-based generator architecture for generative adversarial networks." Proceedings of the IEEE/CVF 2019 [2] Virupakshappa et al. "Using Generative Adversarial Networks to Generate Ultrasonic Signals." 2020 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS). IEEE, 2020

PMUT-Based System for Continuous Monitoring of Bolted Joints Preload.

In this paper, we present a bolt preload monitoring system, including the system architecture and algorithms. We show how Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations aided the design and how we processed signals to achieve experimental validation. The preload is measured using a Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT) in pulse-echo mode, by detecting the Change in Time-of-Flight (CTOF) of the acoustic wave generated by the PMUT, between no-load and load conditions. We performed FEM simulations to analyze the wave propagation inside the bolt and understand the effect of different configurations and parameters, such as transducer bandwidth, transducer position (head/tip), presence or absence of threads, as well as the frequency of the acoustic waves. In order to couple the PMUT to the bolt, a novel assembly process involving the deposition of an elastomeric acoustic impedance matching layer was developed. We achieved, for the first time with PMUTs, an experimental measure of bolt preload from the CTOF, with a good signal-to-noise ratio. Due to its low cost and small size, this system has great potential for use in the field for continuous monitoring throughout the operative life of the bolt.

Effect of ultrasonic on thermo-hydraulic characteristics of shell and tube heat exchangers with twisted tape

Ultrasonic technology was combined with twisted tape insert technology to improve the performance of shell and tube heat exchangers. The effects of sound intensity, sound frequency, and ultrasonic transducer position on thermal transfer, resistance reduction, and overall performance of shell and tube heat exchangers with twisted tape (STHXTT) at different Reynolds numbers were investigated compared to the non-ultrasonic conditions. The experimental results show that applying ultrasonic can significantly enhance thermal transfer, reduce flow resistance, and improve the overall performance. The maximum increase of Nu is 36.53 %, the maximum decrease of f is 12.50 %, and the maximum value of PEC is 1.41. With the increase in Reynolds number, the performance is enhanced but the resistance reduction and overall performance are weak. When the ultrasonic intensity increases, the thermal transfer and resistance reduction performance is enhanced, but a critical ultrasonic intensity exists. When the ultrasonic intensity is large enough, the ability to reduce resistance is enhanced with the decrease of ultrasonic frequency. When the ultrasonic transducer is installed vertically, the thermal transfer performance is the best, however, the resistance reduction effect is the worst. When installed horizontally, the STHXTT has the best resistance reduction performance but the worst thermal transfer effect.

Reliability of Measuring Geniohyoid Cross-Sectional Area with B-Mode Ultrasound.

B-mode ultrasound is a safe noninvasive procedure that has been used to characterize aspects of the oropharyngeal swallow. The submental suprahyoid muscles are often investigated with ultrasound because of their contributions to hyolaryngeal elevation. There are several techniques for positioning the ultrasound transducer in the coronal plane, however, there is limited research on how reliability of measurement of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the geniohyoid differs across transducer placement technique. This study examined three methods of transducer placement in the coronal plane by two examiners to determine the reliability of measurement of CSA of the geniohyoid muscle. Forty healthy adults participated in the study. Each participant's geniohyoid muscles were imaged using B-mode ultrasound under three transducer placement conditions in the coronal plane by two examiners. Geniohyoid CSA was measured from each ultrasound image. A three-way mixed-methods ANOVA was used to determine whether there were significant differences in geniohyoid CSA among transducer position conditions, trials, and examiners. There were significant differences among the transducer placement conditions, indicating that each condition was measuring a different portion of the muscle. There were no significant differences among repeated trials nor between examiners within each method of transducer placement. All three conditions of transducer placement were reliable at measuring geniohyoid CSA across trials and examiners. This study emphasizes the need for consistency of placement, whichever method is selected. It also highlights the need for researchers to provide a precise description of methods for positioning the transducer so that placement is reproducible.

Ultrasound-guided determination demonstrates influence of age, sex and type of sport on medial femoral condyle cartilage thickness in children and adolescents.

To analyse the reliability of ultrasound-guided measurement of the cartilage thickness at the medial femoral condyle in athletically active children and adolescents before and after mechanical load in relation to age, sex and type of sport. Three successive measurements were performed in 157 participants (median/min-max age: 13.1/6.0-18.0 years, 106 males) before and after mechanical load by squats at the same site of the medial femoral condyle by defined transducer positioning. Test-retest reliability was examined using Cronbach's calculation. Differences in cartilage thickness were analysed with respect to age, sex and type of practiced sports, respectively. Excellent reliability was achieved both before and after mechanical load by 30 squats with a median cartilage thickness of 1.9 mm (range: 0.5-4.8 mm) before and 1.9 mm (0.4-4.6 mm) after mechanical load. Male cartilages were thicker (p < 0.01) before (median: 2.0 mm) and after (2.0 mm) load when compared to female cartilage (before: 1.6 mm; after: 1.7 mm). Median cartilage thickness was about three times higher in karate athletes (before: 2.3 mm; after: 2.4 mm) than in sports shooters (0.7; 0.7 mm). Cartilage thickness in track and field athletes, handball players and soccer players were found to lay in-between. Sport type related thickness changes after mechanical load were not significant. Medial femoral condyle cartilage thickness in childhood correlates with age, sex and practiced type of sports. Ultrasound is a reliable and simple, pain-free approach to evaluate the cartilage thickness in children and adolescents. Level III.