Ultrasound Basics

Goals and Objectives

• Understand the basic physics of ultrasonography

  • An Ultrasound image is​ created when sound waves are transmitted through a medium and echoed back to the source to create an image

• Understand  which probe (linear, phased array, or curvilinear) for each organ system

  • Linear: high frequency, bad for depth. Exam: soft tissue and vessels​

  • ​Curvilinear: Low Frequency, good for depth​. Exam: Abdominal

  • Phased Array: Low Frequency, good for depth, small footprint: Exam: Cardiac and Abdominal 

• Understand the different imaging modes (2D, m-mode, and color)

• Demonstrate basic manipulation of the common setting of the ultrasound

  • Gain, Depth, Exam type, Saving images

• Demonstrate how to properly clean and maintain the ultrasound and probes. Use Sanicloth wipes pre and post. 

• Demonstrate how to save and download images. 

• Understand the limitations of POCUS. 

  • These are limited exams, should be used to answer dichotomous questions.