Module 2: Basic Instrumentation Flashcards
The Ultrasound systems converts the mechanical sound waves from the patient and converts them to what?
Electrical information
The converted voltages are processed by the machine to do what?
Reconstruct an image from the reflectors in the body
Once the voltages are processed by the machines to reconstruct an image from the reflectors in the body. What happens?
The voltages are stored and converted once again into the image we see on the monitor
What is the process for basic instrumentation?
- Tech
- Beam former
- Signal processor
- Image processor
- Display
What is the process for beam formers?
- Tech
- Transducer
- Amplifier
- ADC’s
- Echo delays
- Sum
- Signal processors
What is the other alternative process for beam former?
- Pulsed
- Pulse delay
- T/R
- Amplifiers
- ADC
- Echo delays
- Sum
- To signal processors
Digitizations of the voltage is crucial to maintain what?
The integrity of the data through the system
The process of digitizations involves what?
Converting the voltage into a binary number which is more stable
Digitizations can occur before or after what?
The echo delay in the beam former but the preferences is before to stabilize the signal early on
Signal processing involves what two steps?
- ADC
- The receiver
What is the function of the receiver?
It’s function is to process the returned echoes as analog voltages in preparation for display
There are five separate steps for the receiver preparing images for display. What are they?
- Amplification
- Compensation
- Compression
- Rejection
- Demodulation (includes rectification and smoothing)
Rac cd
Why must we use amplification for images?
Returning echos are weak and must be amplified if they are to make it through the circulatory of the machine
We further control the amount of amplification to do what?
To satisfy the need to brighten or darken the image
What is the control for amplification? and how is it expressed?
The control is the GAIN and is expressed in decibels typically in the range of 60 - 100dB
What are the two reasons why we need to use compensation for images?
- Sound attenuates as it travels and thus there is a need to compensate for it
- Similar signals from reflectors should have the same brightness regardless of how deep you image the reflector
What is the control for the compensation control?
TGC is the control responsible and is expressed in dB with a range of around 60dB
TGC can also be called what?
DGC
TGC usually operates in what increments?
1cm increments and can correct for the main bang artifact and attenuation in the far field
What is the compression control? And what is it used for?
The compression control is known as dynamic range, and it is the process of decreasing the difference between the smallest (reject level) and largest (saturation) amplitudes and is expressed in decibels
What is logarithmic amplification?
Where the gain is applied exponentially as a function of the input signal level and the result is the compression of the dynamic range
What is the rejection function also known as?
Threshold or suppression
What is the rejection control used for?
To eliminate or suppress low level echoes that may represent noise and therefore, improve the signal to noise ratio
What does rejection control help with?
Reduce the dynamic range and may or may not be operator controlled
What is the demodulation?
The process which converts the radio frequency (RF) signal into a video signal for monitor display
Demodulation is the two stage process that includes what?
- Rectification
- Smoothing
Rectification turns all negative portions of the signal into what?
Positive ones