《[Book] Introduction to Ultrasound》.pdf

Chapter 2 Introduction to ultrasound Introduction energy from the returning echoes from an area, the whiter the image will appear. The use of ultrasound guidance in regional anesthesia is an ever-evolving field with changing technology. Hyperechoic areas have a great amount of energy from returning echoes and are seen as white. This chapter provides a brief overview of the physics involved in two-dimensional ultrasound image gener- Hypoechoic areas have less energy from ation, ultrasound probe types and machine control fea- returning echoes and are seen as gray. tures, basic tissue imaging characteristics, and imaging Anechoic areas without returning echoes are artifacts commonly seen during performance of a seen as black (Table 2.1). regional ultrasound-guided procedure. Generation of images requires reflection of ultra- sound waves back to the probe to be processed, this reflection occurs at the boundary or interface of dif- Image generation ferent types of tissue. Acoustic impedance is the resist- Ultrasound waves are generated by piezoelectric crys- ance to the passage of ultrasound waves, the greater tals in the handheld probe. Piezoelectric crystals gen- the acoustic impedance, the more resistant that tissue erate an electrical current when a mechani