Ultrasound

Question 1

What equipment is used in ultrasound?

Answer 1

Control panel - allows changes to quality, intensity and amplification of the image.
Coupling gel - better contrast between the patient’s skin and the transducer (minimises air). Reduces artifacts.
Transducer - heavily involved with image production.
Printer

Question 2

How is the Image Produced?

Answer 2

Sound waves are created by vibration of special crystals within the transducer.
The crystals shape is altered when an electrical current is applied - Piezoelectric effect.
Once the transducer is applied to the skin, soundwaves pass through soft tissues as pressure waves.
At interfaces with tissues or different cells some soundwaves are reflected back to the transducer.
The soundwaves vibrate the tissues and the crystals within the transducer.
Soundwaves are then converted back to electrical impulses.
Electrical impulses are converted into an image via the computer.
A cross-sectional image is produced which can show the internal architecture of the tissues.

Question 3

What are the two types of Transducers?

Answer 3

Array transducers and Phased array transducers

Question 4

What is anechoic?

Answer 4

Black areas on the image.

Question 5

What is hypoechoic?

Answer 5

Dark areas on the image.

Question 6

What is Hyperechoic?

Answer 6

Bright areas on the image.

Question 7

Patient Preparation for Ultrasound?

Answer 7

Food withheld for 12 hours. Can drink. Allow to defecate and urinate. Patients’ can be assessed conscious but chemical restraint might be required.

Question 8

Patient Prep - Scanning Site?

Answer 8

Clip area (advise client prior), coupling gel (applied to the patients’ skin to ensure contact), patient manually restrained.

Question 9

Post Procedure Patient Prep?

Answer 9

Clean the animal’s ultrasonography site. Wipe away all the gel and rinse. If conscious, allow to stretch legs or take outside to the toilet.