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Couldn't find anything in the article about whether these still require gel (or if the gel is an absolute requirement for the conventional ones). Anyone know?

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Yes. The gel aids the sound transmission so that it doesn’t have to travel through air and is designed to have the same impedance as skin.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8774352

https://www.animalultrasoundassociation.org/what-is-ultrasou...

Secondary effect is that it lubricates the probe when you move it on the skin.

And then it also gives you a good chill which is to notify your organs that they are about to be photographed.

Some machines have a heated slot where the tube of gel is meant to be left so that it isn't cold when used.

Heated gel is a nice feature for obstetrics and gynecological exams.

Yes, they still require gel. That's just a matter of physics. Changing the transducer technology doesn't change that.

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