Ultrasonography Flashcards
ultrasonography
imaging method that uses sound waves to produce images of structures in the body
what can you use an ultrasound to evaluate?
texture of organs and real-time visualization of functional ability of organs
principles of ultrasound
they’re based on the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy
electrical energy applied in pulses to a probe and converted to sound waves by crystals in the probe
how do ultrasounds convert sound waves into images?
sound waves are directed to patient —> waves can be absorbed, scattered, or reflected back as an echo to the transducer —> transducer receives echoes, converts them back into electrical impulses and then they are translated and read by computer
what is the most important component for converting the energy in an ultrasound?
the transducer
made of piezoelectric ceramics which have unique properties that allow them to change shape in the presence of an electrical current
the electrical impulses make the ceramic vibrate and causes crystals within the ceramic to emit a mechanical vibration at a preset frequency
sound waves
made by areas of high pressure alternated by an area of low pressure
high pressure areas are represented as peaks
low pressure areas are represented as troughs
wavelength
physical distance between 2 consecutive peaks in a sound wave
amplitude
distance of maximum vertical displacement of wave from its mean position
high amplitude = loud sounds
low amplitude = quieter sounds
frequency
rate of vibration of the sound travelling through the air and is calculated in cycles per second
measured in Hertz (Hz)
1 wave cycle/sec = 1 Hz
1000 cycles = 1 kilohertz (KHz)
1 million cycles = 1 mega-Hertz (MHz)
most procedures use frequencies that range from 2-15 MHz
how are frequency and wavelength related?
inversely related
high frequencies have shorter wavelengths which yields greater resolution but decreased penetrating power
low frequencies have longer wavelengths which yields lower resolution and increased penetrating power
what is the enemy of ultrasound?
air
ultrasound waves tend to reflect strongly wherever air meets biological tissue but waves travel very easily through liquids which is why we use lube
echogenicity
appearance of tissues on ultrasound based on ability of tissues to reflect sound waves
refers to the brightness of tissues that are being projected on a B-mode plane
anechoic
structure that is lacking in internal echoes or is echo free
appears dark to black
hyperechoic
tissue of interest reflects back more intense sound waves and appears brighter than tissues surrounding it
hypoechoic
tissue of interest reflects fewer sound waves and with less intensity making it appear darker than surrounding tissues
isoechoic
2 structures have relatively similar echogenicity toward each other
attenuation
loss of sound wave energy as it traverses the tissue of the medium due to absorption, reflection, or scattering
reverberation
sound wave is repeatedly reflected between 2 highly reflective surfaces
near field
area of a structure of interest that is closest to probe
far field
area of a structure of interest that is farthest from probe
ultrasound machine models
cart, laptop, handheld portable