Lesson 1Sound wave basics: frequency, wavelength, propagation, acoustic impedanceIntroduces essential sound wave properties for ultrasound imaging, covering frequency, wavelength, propagation speed, and acoustic impedance, and describes how these factors influence reflection, refraction, and transmission at tissue boundaries.
Frequency, period, and clinical rangesWavelength and spatial resolution linksPropagation speed in different tissuesAcoustic impedance and reflectionRefraction and transmission at boundariesIntensity, power, and beam profilesLesson 2Basic troubleshooting: noise, probe contact issues, and cable/instrument checksOffers a step-by-step method to fix poor images, including spotting noise, ensuring good probe contact and gel application, examining cables and connectors, and knowing when to seek equipment maintenance.
Identifying electronic and speckle noiseImproving probe contact and gel useChecking cables, connectors, and portsVerifying presets and default settingsSimple on-the-spot functional testsWhen to escalate to technical serviceLesson 3Doppler basics (overview): color vs spectral Doppler principles and limits for bedside useIntroduces Doppler physics for bedside applications, comparing color and spectral Doppler, issues like aliasing and angle effects, and practical boundaries in emergency and critical care where quick, targeted checks are vital.
Principles of the Doppler frequency shiftColor Doppler flow mapping and settingsSpectral Doppler waveforms and indicesAngle dependence and aliasing limitationsPractical bedside Doppler applicationsCommon Doppler pitfalls and artifactsLesson 4Transducer types and beam formation: linear, curvilinear, phased-array characteristicsDescribes linear, curvilinear, and phased-array transducers, differences in beam formation, and how footprint, frequency, and field of view help choose probes for vascular, abdominal, cardiac, and lung imaging.
Linear probes and high-resolution imagingCurvilinear probes and abdominal viewsPhased-array probes and cardiac windowsBeam steering, focusing, and apodizationProbe frequency ranges and applicationsSelecting probes for point-of-care examsLesson 5Attenuation and depth: effects of frequency selection on depth and image qualityExamines how ultrasound energy weakens with depth, how frequency choices impact penetration and resolution, and ways to balance image brightness, noise, and detail for shallow or deep body structures.
Mechanisms of attenuation in soft tissueFrequency versus penetration trade-offsFrequency effects on axial and lateral resolutionOptimizing settings for superficial targetsOptimizing settings for deep structuresRecognizing attenuation-related artifactsLesson 6Focusing, focal zones, and near/far field optimizationCovers how focusing and focal zones tighten the beam, enhance lateral resolution, and vary in near and far fields. Stresses choosing and placing focal zones to best image structures at different depths.
Near field, focal zone, and far field basicsElectronic versus fixed focusing methodsEffect of focus on lateral resolutionChoosing number and depth of focal zonesOptimizing focus for superficial targetsOptimizing focus for deep structuresLesson 7Common artifacts: reverberation, shadowing, enhancement, mirror image, comet-tail, A/B-lines, ring-downReviews main ultrasound artifacts, their causes, and how to spot and use or avoid them. Focuses on reverberation, shadowing, enhancement, mirror image, comet-tail, A- and B-lines, and ring-down in bedside exams.
Reverberation and multiple reflection patternsAcoustic shadowing and clean versus dirty shadowsPosterior acoustic enhancement mechanismsMirror image and duplication artifactsComet-tail, ring-down, and short-path artifactsA-lines, B-lines, and lung artifact patternsLesson 8Resolution and penetration: axial, lateral, and elevational resolution trade-offsDetails axial, lateral, and elevational resolution, their dependence on pulse length and beam width, and how probe choice, depth, and focusing balance detail and penetration in clinical imaging.
Axial resolution and spatial pulse lengthLateral resolution and beam widthElevational resolution and slice thicknessDepth, focusing, and resolution changesProbe selection for optimal resolutionBalancing resolution against penetrationLesson 9Time-gain compensation, overall gain, and dynamic range: purpose and practical adjustmentsExplains how time-gain compensation, overall gain, and dynamic range control image brightness and contrast. Focuses on practical controls to adjust for depth attenuation and prevent over- or under-gaining.
Overall gain and global brightness controlTime-gain compensation curve shapingDynamic range and image contrast controlRecognizing overgain and undergain patternsDepth-specific adjustments during scanningPreset use and manual fine-tuningLesson 10Safety and bioeffects: thermal and mechanical indices, ALARA principle, safe scanning timesOutlines ultrasound safety rules, including thermal and mechanical indices, ALARA principle, and safe exposure times. Highlights strategies to reduce risk while keeping diagnostic quality in sensitive patients.
Thermal index meaning and limitationsMechanical index and cavitation riskALARA principle in daily practiceSafe scanning times by patient groupHigh-risk scenarios and mitigationRegulatory guidelines and labeling
