Transducer Manipulation & Image Optimisation

• Describe the ways of manipulation of the transducer in different movements to demonstrate the anatomy
• Explain the adjustment of controls and equipment to optimise B-mode and doppler images
• Understand the principles of tissue characterisation

Ultrasound Ergonomics

• Understand the causes of work-related injuries among sonographers
• Aware of the type of musculoskeletal injuries
• Adopt proper ergonomics when scanning patients
• Identify and use the ergonomic features of the ultrasound machine and the room
• Learn the stretching exercises that can be adopted at work

Ultrasound Artefacts

• Describe the formation and appearance of beam dimension, path, depth of origin, attenuation artefacts
• Recognise ultrasound artifacts and able to correct them to improve the image quality

Bio-effects

• Understand the mechanisms of ultrasound interactions with tissue which are mechanical and thermal

Image Quality Assessment

• Understand Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) in the assessment of the systems performance
• Aware of the importance of optimum ambient lighting in detecting details when scanning and viewing images
• Use Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) to assess the ability of the participants to recognise (or fail to recognise) features in an image

Quality Assurance

• Understand the types of phantoms and equipment used to monitor the performance of ultrasound systems
• Aware of the parameters used for testing

Hands-on Practical Session 1

• This session aims to allow participants to use the different transducer manipulation techniques to demonstrate the ultrasound anatomy and to be able to orientate the transducer position when scanning in different planes. They will also be able to optimise images using the different machine controls.

Hands-on Practical Session 2

• This session aims to allow participants to learn the stretching exercises that can be adopted at work and to demonstrate the correct ways of posture when scanning including using the ergonomic features of the machine and room effectively.

Hands-on Practical Session 3

• This session aims to allow participants to use the ultrasound test phantom to measure the test parameters to ensure the results are within the normal range.

Hands-on Practical Session 4

• This session aims to allow participants to see a series of images and the ROC curve is plotted based on their individual results obtained.