Lesson 1Sound wave basics: frequency, wavelength, propagation, acoustic impedanceIntroduces essential sound wave characteristics for ultrasound imaging, covering frequency, wavelength, propagation speed, and acoustic impedance, and how these affect 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, checking cables and connections, and knowing when to call for 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): colour vs spectral Doppler principles and limits for bedside useIntroduces Doppler physics for point-of-care applications, comparing colour and spectral Doppler, issues like aliasing and angle effects, and practical boundaries in emergency and intensive care where quick assessments are vital.
Principles of the Doppler frequency shiftColour 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 view field help choose probes for vascular, abdominal, heart, and lung scans.
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 diminishes with depth, how frequency choices impact penetration and detail, and balancing brightness, noise, and diagnostic clarity for shallow or deep body parts.
Mechanisms of attenuation in soft tissueFrequency versus penetration trade-offsFrequency effects on axial and lateral resolutionOptimising settings for superficial targetsOptimising settings for deep structuresRecognising attenuation-related artifactsLesson 6Focusing, focal zones, and near/far field optimisationDiscusses how focusing and focal zones tighten the beam, enhance side-to-side resolution, and vary in near and far fields. Stresses choosing and placing focal zones to best image targets 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 zonesOptimising focus for superficial targetsOptimising focus for deep structuresLesson 7Common artefacts: reverberation, shadowing, enhancement, mirror image, comet-tail, A/B-lines, ring-downReviews main ultrasound artefacts, 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-offsExplains axial, lateral, and elevational resolution, how they rely on pulse length and beam width, and how probe selection, depth, and focusing balance detail and penetration in patient scans.
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 adjustmentsCovers how time-gain compensation, overall gain, and dynamic range affect image brightness and contrast. Focuses on practical controls to adjust for depth-related fading and prevent over- or under-brightening.
Overall gain and global brightness controlTime-gain compensation curve shapingDynamic range and image contrast controlRecognising 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 guidelines, including thermal and mechanical indices, ALARA principle, and safe exposure durations. Highlights ways to reduce risks while keeping image quality high for 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 labelling
