By Scott Trefny
Diagnostic ultrasound service and support is an ever-growing specialty, and some service providers find themselves in a position where they are either new to this technology or having trouble keeping pace with the rapid growth of the market. No matter how advanced the electronics developed to deliver the newest technology or the increasing speed of computer processing to compile images and manipulate the data, the basic principles of ultrasound remain the same. Whether you are new to ultrasound or an experienced engineer providing service and support, getting back to the basics is an effective way of providing a high level of expertise and effectively communicate with end-users.
Diagnostic ultrasound is defined as a non-invasive medical imaging method that uses high frequency sound waves to form an image of body tissues. Information obtained from these images can be utilized along with other patient data to arrive at a medical diagnosis. Compared to other modalities such as X-ray, CT and MRI, ultrasound is a lower cost diagnostic tool with a smaller footprint, and is without the limitations or risks of magnetic fields or ionizing radiation, respectively.
Ultrasonic principles and theory rely upon the piezoelectric effect, a method of applying an electrical charge to a crystalline substance causing it to vibrate at a certain frequency, emitting sound waves through the applied substance or tissue. Sound waves encounter tissue of varying sizes and densities and are reflected to the source transducer. This reflected sound is converted by signal interpreting boards and sent to a computer for further conversion into a diagnostic image on a display monitor.
Understanding the physics of ultrasound emission and detection helps in the troubleshooting process. The remaining architecture of ultrasound systems typically consists of some type of computer, user-interface and monitor. Systems containing a computer tend to be Windows-based devices and utilize basic functions of the Windows platform to interface peripherals and networking. Keeping this in mind helps to understand how to make troubleshooting decisions and finding the best means to support these systems from an economic standpoint.
Consideration of the limitations of ultrasound will also help in understanding the issues that end-users face and efficiently find solutions that address their needs. Ultrasound is comprised of radio frequencies, which means that the system and the image field are susceptible to external noise. Although many manufacturers have gone to great lengths to minimize any type of interference, the possibility for this to occur still exists. This interference can cause image degradation and artifact to be displayed. Another limitation of diagnostic ultrasound is that it cannot be used in circumstances where there is a fluid or air-filled sac, or where dense structures like bone or metal are within the scanning area, as these structures absorb or reflect the sound waves without allowing for them to pass through.
In my many conversations with end-users and department managers, getting back to basics is a good starting point when entering the ultrasound field, keeping pace with the technological advancement of ultrasound applications, and can help provide solutions to meet the complex needs of the department. So, if you find yourself in front of a system you are not sure about or having a conversation about an ultrasound problem you might not understand, starting with the basics will help put you on the path of finding a solution.
Scott Trefny, MBA, CBET, is a regional service manager for Avante Health Solutions. For 24/7 Technical Support, call 800-958-9986 or visit avantehs.com/ultrasound.
