PX3246: Medical Ultrasound
| School | Cardiff School of Physics & Astronomy |
| Department Code | PHYSX |
| Module Code | PX3246 |
| External Subject Code | 100419 |
| Number of Credits | 10 |
| Level | L6 |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Module Leader | Professor Neil Pugh |
| Semester | Spring Semester |
| Academic Year | 2015/6 |
Outline Description of Module
To provide an understanding of the principles and applications of ultrasound in medicine.
To give a working knowledge of the construction and operation of diagnostic ultrasound equipment and ultrasound safety issues.
To give an overview of the particular features of diagnostic ultrasound in the main application areas.
On completion of the module a student should be able to
Explain the wave nature of ultrasound and describe the interactions of ultrasound with tissue.
Define the Doppler effect and understand its application to medical ultrasound.
Design a basic ultrasound transducer and describe the principles of a pulse-echo imaging system.
Describe the basic design of continuous wave and colour-flow Doppler instruments.
Describe the artefacts that occur in echo and Doppler imaging.
Explain the characteristics of blood flow in normal and diseased states.
Describe the general applications of ultrasound imaging, and the methods of improving those images, including the use of contrast agents.
Explain the basic principles of echocardiography.
Discuss the value of 3D and 4D imaging, the use of ultrasound in obstetric and gynaecological imaging, and the safety implications of ultrasound.
How the module will be delivered
Lectures 22 x 1 hr, Demonstrations, Exercises.
Skills that will be practised and developed
Problem solving. Investigative skills. Mathematics. Analytical skills.
How the module will be assessed
Examination and Continuous Assessment
Assessment Breakdown
| Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam - Spring Semester | 80 | Medical Ultrasound | 2 |
| Written Assessment | 20 | Medical Ultrasound | N/A |
Syllabus content
The nature of ultrasound: The wave concept as applied to ultrasound. Velocity, power and energy. Acoustic impedance. Interactions of ultrasound with tissue. The Doppler effect. Basic principles of Doppler ultrasound.
Transducers and instrumentation: Generation of ultrasound. Transducer design. Manipulation of ultrasound waves. B-mode systems. CW devices. Colour flow mappers.
Image interpretation: Artefacts in echo and Doppler imaging. Image optimisation. Ultrasound quality assurance.
Vascular ultrasound: Characteristics of blood flow in normal and diseased states. Doppler waveform analysis and pattern recognition. Broad-band Doppler. Vascular applications.
General ultrasound: Applications of ultrasound imaging – abdominal organs, musculoskeletal. Contrast agents. Harmonic imaging. Flash echo techniques.
Cardiac ultrasound: Principles of echocardiography. Phased arrays. M-mode.
Obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound: Features of obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound. Power Doppler. 3D/4D imaging. Safety aspects and bioeffects of medical ultrasound.
Background Reading and Resource List
Physics and Instrumentation of Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, P Fish.
Diagnostic Ultrasonics: Principles and Uses of Instruments, W N McDicken.
Diagnostic Ultrasound: Physics and Equipment. P R Hoskins et al.
Diagnostic Ultrasound: Principles and Instruments: F W Kremkau.