Knobology and Imaging
1. Probe Selection
The vasculature relevant to internal medicine bedside procedures are relatively superficial structures, therefore we need a transducer that best image this level of depth.
The Linear probe is the probe of choice for this indication given its high frequency bandwidth which yields high resolution images for superficial structures. The footprint geometry is, also, suited for the regions to be assessed and for real-time needle guidance.
The vasculature relevant to internal medicine bedside procedures are relatively superficial structures, therefore we need a transducer that best image this level of depth.
The Linear probe is the probe of choice for this indication given its high frequency bandwidth which yields high resolution images for superficial structures. The footprint geometry is, also, suited for the regions to be assessed and for real-time needle guidance.
2. Knobology Optimization
Depth to Visual Real-Estate Ratio
As you change the depth an image, the so called visual real estate changes. As we increase the depth, the image on the screen gets narrower; and as we reduce the depth, the image on the screen gets wider. You can appreciate that the image on the lower right hand corner that was taken at 5.1cm looks narrower than the other image taken at 1.9cm. Well, despite there appears to be a discrepancy in width, the distance between A and B are equal because the same width of tissue is being scanned. However, B just looks narrower because the monitor has to accommodate for the deeper depth that has been selected. So always maximize your visual real estate. If you do not need to look that deep, just set the depth sufficiently deep to view the structure of interest.
Key Messages:
- Use the linear probe
- Optimize the visual real estate