Abstract: Apparatus for the ultrasonic examination of an object comprising a transmer for transmitting pulses of ultrasonic energy into the object and a receiver for receiving echoes of the pulses of ultrasonic energy reflected by acoustic impedance discontinuities within the object, wherein the transmitter comprises a central transducer adapted to transmit pulses along a single axis and a plurality of annular transducers positioned concentrically with the axis of the central transducer. The receiver comprises the central transducer, the central transducer being adapted to receive echoes of pulses transmitted into the object by each of the central transducer and the annular transducers which are reflected along the single axis thereof, the apparatus further comprising circuitry for analyzing the received echoes of pulses transmitted by each of the central transducer and annular transducers to extract velocity, scattering, and multiple reflection information.