Which type of ultrasound transducer provides the largest field of view in both the near field and at depth?

• A. Linear array
• B. Curved array
• C. Phased array
• D. Sector

Answer: (B)

The field of view is shaped by the transducer’s geometry and how the beams fan out. A curved array has its elements arranged along a curved surface, so the emitted beams form a wide, fan-shaped sweep from the near field and continue to diverge with depth. That curved, larger aperture covers a broad area both close to the transducer and far away, giving the largest field of view overall.

In contrast, a linear array uses a flat aperture, which produces a more rectangular image with less lateral coverage, especially as depth increases. A phased array relies on electronic steering with a relatively small physical aperture, which can widen the view but not as much as a curved array. A sector transducer makes a fan-shaped image too, but with a smaller effective aperture near the face, so its overall field of view isn’t as broad as the curved array.