Training activity information
Details
Identify a range of B-mode and doppler ultrasound artefacts and their causes. Demonstrate how the choice of control settings and transducer manipulation can reduce or eliminate them where necessary
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Ultrasound artefacts that may hinder and aid clinical diagnosis
- Limitations of imaging vs system fault artefacts
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- Consider specific insights you hope to gain regarding the practical management of ultrasound image quality issues.
- Think about your current knowledge of ultrasound artefacts and their impact on diagnostic accuracy.
- Anticipate learning about the specific strategies used to minimise different types of B-mode and Doppler artefacts.
- Consider how understanding artefacts contributes to the optimisation of ultrasound examinations.
- Discuss the common B-mode and Doppler ultrasound artefacts to be focused on with your training officer.
- Review resources on ultrasound artefacts, including their appearance, causes, and methods of reduction.
- Familiarise yourself with the ultrasound system’s control settings and transducer options.
- Consider working with experienced sonographers to observe how artefacts are identified and addressed in clinical practice.
- Reflect on your current ability to recognise and troubleshoot image quality issues in ultrasound.
In action
- Pay attention to your actions. How are you approaching the identification of ultrasound artefacts and the implementation of corrective measures using scanner controls and transducer manipulation? Why are you doing it this way?
- What decisions are you making as you analyse the images for artefacts and select appropriate adjustments or techniques?
- What aspects of recognising ultrasound artefacts and understanding their causes feel intuitive, and what requires more conscious effort?
- How effective are your actions in identifying different B-mode and Doppler artefacts and successfully reducing or eliminating them through control setting adjustments and transducer manipulation?
- What challenges are you facing in correctly diagnosing the cause of an artefact or finding effective solutions?
- What can you learn about the practical management of ultrasound image quality as it unfolds?
- How does this activity connect to your knowledge of ultrasound physics and image formation?
- Are there alternative approaches you could be considering for identifying or correcting the artefacts?
- What support or guidance might you need in this moment to troubleshoot a particular artefact?
- Are you systematically testing different adjustments and techniques and observing their impact on the artefacts?
On action
- What different types of B-mode and Doppler ultrasound artefacts did you identify (e.g., reverberation, shadowing, aliasing)?
- What were the causes of these artefacts?
- How did adjustments to control settings and transducer manipulation affect the presence and severity of the artefacts?
- What did you learn about the origins and characteristics of common ultrasound artefacts?
- How did this activity improve your ability to recognise and troubleshoot ultrasound artefacts?
- What techniques for transducer manipulation are most effective in reducing specific types of artefacts?
- How will this knowledge inform your approach to image optimisation and artefact reduction in clinical ultrasound examinations?
- What further practical experience would be beneficial in refining your artefact recognition and reduction skills?
- What support or resources might you need to further develop your skills in this area?
Beyond action
- Reflect on the ultrasound artefacts you identified and the adjustments you made to minimise them. How well do you remember these artefacts and their solutions?
- During your observations of clinical ultrasound scans, have you noticed the sonographer encountering and addressing artefacts?
- Could you recognise the artefacts and the techniques used? Consider if your understanding of the physics behind ultrasound artefacts has deepened, reinforcing your knowledge of how to manage them.
- Has this activity improved your ability to recognise ultrasound artefacts in clinical images and understand their potential to obscure diagnostic information?
- Has your understanding of how to adjust scanner settings and transducer manipulation techniques to reduce artefacts enhanced your practical skills in ultrasound scanning?
- How has this experience prepared you for discussions about strategies to reduce the impact of artefacts during observed clinical events?
- How will a comprehensive knowledge of ultrasound artefacts and their management be valuable in future roles involving clinical scanning, quality assurance, or training?
- What further learning about more subtle or complex ultrasound artefacts and advanced techniques for their reduction would you be interested in pursuing?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 5 |
Outcome
Identify ultrasound and MRI artefacts and advise on parameters to mitigate the impact on clinical images. |