Pulsed Ultrasound Flashcards
What happens in a pulsed system?
An image is produced by the transducer by pausing or “listening” after transmitting.
How many ways can a pulse be generated?
Two
What are the two ways a pulse can be generated?
1) The electrical output from a generator is gated to apply a rapidly alternating voltage to the crystal
2) A charged capacitor is discharged through the crystal which is simulated to vibrate at a resonance frequency
What does a capacitor do?
It stores a charge
How does pulsed ultrasound differ from continuous wave ultrasound.
In continuous wave ultrasound the crystal never stops vibrating, the transducer never pauses to “listen” for the returning reflectors and therefore cannot produce an image.
What does PD mean?
Pulse Duration
What is pulse duration?
Pulse duration (PD) is the time it takes for one pulse to occur.
What is the formula for PD?
PD = T x Cycles in a pulse
What is the unit of PD?
μs
What is RD?
Ringdown
What is Ringdown?
Cycles in a pulse
What is SPL?
Spatial Pulse Length
What is Spatial Pulse Length?
The length of the pulse (distance).
What is the formula for SPL?
SPL = Wavelength x Cycles in a pulse
SPL = λ x RD
What is the unit of SPL?
mm
How does frequency effect wavelength?
They are inversely related. Increasing the frequency decreases the wavelength, decreasing the frequency increases the wavelength.
How does frequency effect SPL?
Increasing frequency decreases wavelength, which therefore decreases the SPL (SPL = wavelength x RD)
How does decreasing the cycles in a pulse effect SPL?
Decreasing the cycles in a pulse (RD) would also decrease SPL
(SPL = λ x RD)
How does SPL effect an image?
SPL effects resolution.
Decreasing the SPL will improve an image.
How would a shorter pulse effect the image?
A shorter pulse will give better resolution.
To get a shorter pulse would you increase or decrease SPL?
Decrease
To get a shorter pulse would you increase or decrease RD?
Decrease
What is PRF?
Pulse Repetition Frequency
What is Pulse Repetition Frequency?
The number of pulses emitted in one second.
How many pulses to ultrasound probes emit per second? (Roughly)
A few thousand
What is the unit of PRF?
Hz or kHz
What is the formula for PRF?
PRF = 1/PRP