SON4000 Physics of medical ultrasound and instrumentation
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
SON4000 Physics of medical ultrasound and instrumentation is a level 4, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2024 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 7 units.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2024
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 80%
- and 1 other task
This is the 2024 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before SON4000
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After SON4000
7 units list SON4000 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
- SON5000Ultrasound researchNo reviews yet
- SON5020Sonographic professional skills and sonography of the breast and thyroidNo reviews yet
- SON5021Sonographic abdominal imagingNo reviews yet
- SON5022Sonographic imaging of the reproductive systemNo reviews yet
- SON5023Obstetric sonographyNo reviews yet
- SON5024Musculoskeletal, neonatal and paediatric sonographyNo reviews yet
- SON5025Sonographic vascular and postoperative imagingNo reviews yet
Enrolment rules
Overview
This unit addresses scientific and technical principles of diagnostic ultrasound and the scanning modes. The fundamentals of ultrasound transducers, continuous-wave and pulse-wave high frequency sound, A-mode, M-mode and B-mode diagnostic ultrasound scanning, the Doppler effect, spectral Doppler, colour and power Doppler and associated instrumentation are introduced. Recent developments in harmonic imaging and the use of contrast agents are presented. Safety issues are also covered including an understanding of bio-effects and bio-hazards. Students will develop skills in the recognition of image artefacts, the implementation of a quality assurance program and in optimising image quality.
Offerings in 2024
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Online |
| Second semester | Clayton | Online |
Assessment
- In-semester exam (70 mins)25%
- End-of-semester exam (130 mins)55%
- Structured report (2,000 words)20%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Ultrasound production, propagation and tissue interactions and the focusing and steering of ultrasound beams;
- 2
The instrumentation, performance and use of A-mode, real-time B-mode and M-mode scanning in ultrasound practice;
- 3
The Doppler effect and Doppler modes used in diagnostic ultrasound to image vascular flow including spectral, colour and power modes;
- 4
Image quality, relevant image processing, the recognition of artefacts and instrument calibration;
- 5
Safety issues in medical ultrasound, bio-effects and potential bio-hazards;
- 6
Advances in harmonic imaging the use of contrast agents and future trends on transducer technologies.
Workload and teaching
- Applied sessions2 hours
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Mohamed Badawy
- Chief Examiners
- Ignatius Pereira
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for SON4000?
SON4000 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after SON4000?
SON4000 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 7 units, including SON5000, SON5020, SON5021, SON5022, SON5023 and SON5024.
When is SON4000 offered?
In 2024, SON4000 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton, with an online option.
Does SON4000 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 80% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.