Reducing Acoustic Exposure On The Cypress System - Implementing Alara - Siemens ACUSON Cypress Operator's Manual

Safety, Technical Description, and Accuracy
10-10
Reducing Acoustic Exposure on the Cypress System —
Implementing
ALARA
In addition to the general guidelines above, several specific steps may be taken
in scanning with the system to minimize acoustic exposure.
Use the lowest possible acoustic transmit setting consistent with obtaining
1.
diagnostic-quality images. The Transmit control is located in the Tools menu.
Follow the principle of
able. The Transmit level may be adjusted separately for each scanning
mode.
Use Overall Gain to adjust for weaker images rather than increasing the
2.
Transmit level. The gain control applies to received signals and does not
increase the acoustic output of the system. This applies to all scanning
modes.
In and M-Mode, use the Time Gain Compensation controls to adjust for
2D
3.
weaker images rather than increasing the Transmit level.
The Compress control affects the dynamic range and grayscale curve set-
4.
tings applied to
2D
output of the system. In some circumstances the controls may be adjusted to
improve an image and minimize the need to increase the transmit level.
Adjusting this control should be attempted first before increasing the Trans-
mit setting.
The depth setting in all modes has an indirect effect upon the acoustic out-
5.
put. The system automatically places the transmit beam focus dependent on
the overall depth setting. Deeper depths will cause the transmit focus to be
placed deeper in the field of view, and this will reduce the output levels.
In general, as shown in the Acoustic Output Tables,
6.
highest output level, followed in order by Color Flow Mapping, M-Mode and
. To the extent practicable and consistent with the diagnostic objectives of
2D
the exam, keep these mode-related levels in mind when scanning.
Select the appropriate system protocol when performing fetal neonatal ceph-
7.
alic studies. This will provide lower default values and provide access to
and indices for neonatal cephalic studies.
TIB
Keep exams as brief as possible, consistent with diagnostic requirements.
8.
* As Low As Reasonably Achievable.
ACUSON Cypress™ Operator's Manual
*
—using a setting as low as reasonably achiev-
ALARA
and M-Mode image data but does not affect the acoustic
Doppler will have the
CW
TIC