Ultrasound machine knobology Copyright © 2010 Academy of Veterinary Imaging

Ultrasound machine knobology… In other words, what the heck do all of those knobs and buttons do, and how can adjusting them affect image quality?!?!

GE ultrasound Image optimization Features Presets, depth, frequency, auto-optimize, focal points, gain/TGC Features Archiving, transducers, SRI, compounding, harmonics, 3-D, LOGIQView, Doppler

GE ultrasound GE features: Go to: Image optimization: Presets Depth Frequency Auto-optimize Focal points Gain/TGC Archiving Transducers SRI CrossXBeam Harmonics 3-D LOGIQView % affected LOGIQ 7 LOGIQ 5 LOGIQ P5 LOGIQ e LOGIQ Book In this presentation, click on the Home button as pictured here to return to this page

Image optimization Image quality is comprised of many things During an ultrasound exam, the ultrasound machine settings should be changed as needed to optimize image quality Understanding just a few of the knobs can accomplish this for most scans L7 L5 P5 Le LB

Presets Settings can be saved as presets Viewed in Application or Preset screen Different presets for different transducers/structures/patient species/sizes The more ‘complicated’ machine settings are saved in presets, so these do not need to be adjusted during every scan L7 L5 P5 Le LB

Depth Adjust as needed throughout scan L7 L5 P5 Le LB Optimal

Frequency Better resolution Less depth Lower frequency High frequency Better resolution Less depth Lower frequency Lower resolution Better for depth L7 L5 P5 Le LB

Auto optimize ‘Personal preference’ button. Adds more contrast…Whites are whiter, blacks are blacker Try on or off. Chose the setting that looks better to you. Auto optimize must be deselected then reselected for every new structure imaged. L7 L5 P5 Le LB

Focal points Place focal points at the region of interest. Improved resolution is seen where the focal points are. Place focal points at the region of interest. L7 L5 P5 Le LB

Gain Overall gain Amplification of received signal TGC Time Gain Compensation Compensates for beam attenuation (loss of energy as it passes through tissue) L7 L5 P5 Le LB

LOGIQ 7 Frequency Focal points TGC Depth Gain Auto optimize L5 P5 Le (touch screen) Le Frequency LB Focal points TGC Depth Gain Auto optimize

LOGIQ 5 Frequency Focal points Depth Gain Auto optimize TGC L7 P5 Le LB Focal points Depth Gain Auto optimize TGC

LOGIQ P5 Focal Frequency points Depth TGC Gain Auto optimize L7 L5 LB Le Focal points Frequency Depth TGC Gain Auto optimize

LOGIQ e Frequency Focal points TGC Depth Gain Auto optimize L7 L5 P5 LB TGC Depth Gain Auto optimize

LOGIQ Book Frequency Focal points TGC Depth Auto optimize Gain (toggle) Le TGC Depth Auto optimize Gain

Archiving ‘P’ buttons can be programmed Default settings: P1: Saves as raw dicom clip or still image (image appearance, M-mode, 3-D can be done on a raw dicom clip, but it is a very large file, thus too large to send) P2: Print on the thermal printer P3: Save as dicom

Archiving Images can be transferred to a CD or USB flash drive. Depending on GE model, media must be formatted first Press Utilities button Select Connectivity, then removable media To eject media after saving images, press F3 Select the media to eject, then finalize

Some GE transducers 8C 12L Rectal i739 4C 3S

SRI Speckle Reduction Imaging: Improved contrast resolution Improved overall clarity Smoothes regions where no feature or edges appear Maintains or enhances edges and borders Does not eliminate any information Increased Signal-to-Noise ratio

SRI Always is on in the LOGIQ e Can adjust to have different levels in the LOGIQ 7 and LOGIQ P5 Level is set within the preset (Application) settings

Spatial compounding CrossXBeam Interrogates tissue at multiple angles = GE’s spatial compounding Available on the LOGIQ e and LOGIQ P5 Interrogates tissue at multiple angles Introduces new tissue info Averages out speckle SRI and CrossXBeam together can have complimentary and additive effects Borders are similar for each steering angle, noise and speckle position change for each frame; successive frames average out noise and smooth borders

CrossXBeam Perpendicular angle of insonation generates higher signal Images generated with compounding have more angles that are perpendicular to structures CrossXBeam OFF CrossXBeam ON

CrossXBeam Improved border definition Improved contrast resolution Reduced angle dependence Reduced speckle and noise Increased visualization of biopsy needles Can reduce helpful artifact Can reduce frame rate LOGIQ P5 LOGIQ e

CrossXBeam: P5 Press X Beam to turn on Press L and R buttons simultaneously to see side-by-side display of CrossXBeam on and CrossXBeam off

CrossXBeam: Le F9 or ‘Comp’ to turn on Press L and R buttons simultaneously to see side-by-side display of CrossXBeam on and CrossXBeam off

Harmonics (THI) Display is from echos of a frequency different from the transmitted frequency (i.e. 2x transmitted frequency) Reduced artifact Improved axial and lateral resolution Better margin definition and increased contrast

Press THI or Harmonics button to turn on Harmonics (THI) Press THI or Harmonics button to turn on Press L and R buttons simultaneously to see side-by-side display of harmonics on and harmonics off

3-D Volume imaging Appears more ‘life-like’ Infinite viewing planes Volume vs. area affected can be assessed Appears more ‘life-like’ Infinite viewing planes May approximate CT or MRI imaging Scan parallel* or sweep (fan) Angle of imaging less operator dependent LOGIQ P5 LOGIQ e

3-D: P5 Press 3D to turn on Click arrow to go to images Press Left button to start. Scan anatomy. Press Right button to stop.

3-D: Le Press F7 to turn on Click arrow to go to images Press Left button to start. Scan anatomy. Press Right button to stop.

Use set button to alternate hand and rotate tools Drag image to corner

Use set button to alternate hand and rotate tools Rotate image

Use set button to alternate hand and rotate tools Slice through

Use set button to alternate hand and rotate tools Rotate again

3-D Use set button to alternate hand and rotate tools Slice through another plane

LOGIQView Extended field of view Better demonstration of anatomical relationships Ability to measure large structures LOGIQ P5 LOGIQ e

LOGIQView: P5 Press LOGIQ View to turn on Press Left button to start, scan anatomy. Press Right button to stop.

Press Left button to start, scan anatomy. Press Right button to stop. LOGIQView: Le Press F8 View to turn on Press Left button to start, scan anatomy. Press Right button to stop.

Scan in a straight plane or image will ‘bend’ LOGIQView Scan in a straight plane or image will ‘bend’

% affected Measure % of tendon affected by the lesion Press Measure button Select % stenosis folder Select % sten (area) Trace around entire tendon Press set Trace around lesion % affected = 100 - %sten