MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

DMI258AA  2008 Fall – 2010 Summer II

Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Physics and Instrumentation

1.

Define and describe specific terms and physical properties related to diagnostic ultrasound. (I)

2.

Describe the function and operation of various components of an ultrasound imaging unit. (II)

3.

Describe the testing and calibration of different ultrasound imaging systems. (III)

4.

Compare and contrast forms of acoustic output measurement. (IV)

5.

Explain the potential biological effects of ultrasound and the standards for the safe practice of diagnostic ultrasound. (V)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

DMI258AA  2008 Fall – 2010 Summer II

Ultrasound Registry Preparation Seminar: Physics and Instrumentation

I. Physics

A. Terminology and physical units

B. Acoustic wave properties

1. Types

2. Propagation characteristics

3. Frequency, wavelength, phases

4. Pulsed ultrasound

5. Intensity

6. Amplitude

7. Acoustic impedance

8. Attenuation

C. Acoustic field properties

D. Doppler physics

E. Artifacts

II. Instrumentation

A. Transducer

B. Pulse echo system

C. Display modes

D. Digital imaging

E. Realtime systems

F. Duplex (Doppler) systems

G. Gain controls

III. Quality Control

A. Testing and Calibration

1. Test objects

2. A-mode

3. B-mode

4. M-mode

5. Hardcopy

IV. Output Measurements

A. Total Power

B. Acoustic output measurements

1. Spatial average versus spatial peak

2. Temporal average versus temporal peak

3. Spatial peak - temporal average

4. Spatial average - temporal average

5. Spatial peak - temporal average

6. Spatial peak - pulse average

V. Biological Effects

A. Mechanisms

1. Thermal

2. Cavitation

3. Shear force

B. Epidemiologic studies

C. Somatic

D. Developmental

E. Genetic

F. Assessment of risk in diagnostic ultrasound

G. AIUM-NEMA standards

H. DHEW recommendations