Basics of Scanning - 5 Cardinal Probe Motions
The 5 Cardinal Probe Directional Maneuvers
1. Sliding
2. Rotating
3. Tilting
4. Rocking
5. Compressing
1. Sliding
2. Rotating
3. Tilting
4. Rocking
5. Compressing
1. Sliding
This maneuver involves keeping the probe still without any changes to its angles, then one slides the probe in one of four primary directions: cephalad, caudal, right, or left -- referenced from the perspective of the sonographer.
This maneuver involves keeping the probe still without any changes to its angles, then one slides the probe in one of four primary directions: cephalad, caudal, right, or left -- referenced from the perspective of the sonographer.
2. Rotating
This maneuver requires the probe to be maintained at a focal point, then rotate the probe either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
This maneuver requires the probe to be maintained at a focal point, then rotate the probe either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
3. Tilting
This maneuver requires the probe to be maintained at a focal point, then drop the tail of the probe to the left or the right (sonographer's perspective).
This maneuver requires the probe to be maintained at a focal point, then drop the tail of the probe to the left or the right (sonographer's perspective).
4. Rocking
This maneuver requires one to maintain the probe at a focal point, then either "push" the tail of the probe away from you or "pull" the tail of the probe towards you.
This maneuver requires one to maintain the probe at a focal point, then either "push" the tail of the probe away from you or "pull" the tail of the probe towards you.
5. Compression
This maneuver requires one to keep the probe at the focal plane of interest, then a gentle compression of variable magnitude is applied (eg. this is used in vascular imaging to assess compressibility of the vessel).
This maneuver requires one to keep the probe at the focal plane of interest, then a gentle compression of variable magnitude is applied (eg. this is used in vascular imaging to assess compressibility of the vessel).
Take Home Messages:
- there are 5 cardinal directional maneuvers for the probe
- reference the maneuver direction based on the perspective of the sonographer
- when you are fine tuning a scan, ONLY maneuver the probe in 1 of the 5 cardinal directions successively in order to systematically enhance your image