Sonography Principles and Instrumentation - ARDMS SPI Exam Multiple
Choice Questions and Answers_2025
What is the Standard protocol for digital imaging that allows for compatibility and
communication between computers, workstations, and network hardware provided by various
manufactures of CT, MRI and Ultrasound equipment? - (answers)DICOM - Digital Imaging and
Communication in Medicine
The spatial pulse length decreases - (answers)with higher frequency
Axial resolution is improved by - (answers)damping
......(because it INCREASES the frequency)
Think SHORT and HIGH ! Like Axl Rose from Guns n Roses- just google him.
Lateral resolution is improved by - (answers)decreasing the beam diameter
**Tested at point BandE on the phantom
The beam of an unfocused transducer diverges where? - (answers)In the Fraunhofer zone
Reverberation artifacts are a result of - (answers)The presence of two or more strong reflecting
surfaces
Recommendations for reducing the potential for bioeffects using the ALARA principal is to - -
(answers)Increase receiver gain, decrease output power
What technique can be employed to reduce grating side lobes? - (answers)Apodization,
harmonics, subdicing
"grate off that Ahs!" think skinny..
,Presence of grating lobe and side lobe artifacts are what type of resolution issue? -
(answers)Lateral resolution
A technique that uses an ensemble of pulses to improve penetration and contrast resolution -
(answers)CE - Coded excitation
If a patient is wheeled over from the ER(other dept.) without an ID band, but is a STAT for r/o
DVT- - (answers)Send them back for appropriate identification measures and tagging. Trust NO
ONE! Patients Lie/have altered mental status, nurses are rushed. Just send them back for it to be
done correctly.
Decreasing the spatial pulse length improves - (answers)axial resolution
How much will a 3.5 MHz pulse be attenuated after passing through 2 cm of soft tissue? -
(answers)3.5 dB
(freq / 2) x path length cm = total attenuation dB/cm
Which of the following is the role of the pulse?
A. voltage generation to drive the transducer
B. gain adjustment for the receiver
C. beam focusing
D. beam steering - (answers)Voltage generation to drive the transducer
A long near zone can be obtained by - - (answers)using a higher frequency transducer
Propagation speed errors result in - (answers)improper axial position
Enhancement is caused by - (answers)weakly attenuating structures (such as a cyst)
The doppler shift frequency is directly proportional to - (answers)the velocity of the reflector
,The number of frames per second necessary for a real-time image to be flicker free is -
(answers)>15 - 30 FPS
Any patient who does not speak English clearly, but presents for a procedure requiring a consent
form - What is the most appropriate step? - (answers)Use a certified language line interpreter.
The Intensity of the ultrasound beam is usually greater at the Focal zone because of -
(answers)Smaller beam diameter!!
Focal zone-where the glare of the beam narrows and the Intensity is great!
If the amplitude is doubled, the intensity is - (answers)quadrupled (increased by 4 times- because
they are proportional)
Crank up the AMP! and things get INTENSE too!
The attenuation for soft tissue is increased with - (answers)tissue thickness
The acoustic impedance of the matching layer - (answers)can be chosen to improve transmission
into the body
What is the first step required prior to starting any procedure? - (answers)Verify Name, DOB,
and medical record number. Those are the 3 basic required identifiers every time.
The operating frequency depends on - (answers)the thickness of the crystal.
Thickness = 1/2 the wavelength
The period of an ultrasound wave is - (answers)time to complete one cycle
(Just like a lady..)
The dynamic range of a system - (answers)is the ratio of smallest to largest power level that the
system can handle
, The digital imaging system that allows MRI, CT, ultrasound and xray to store images
electronically and viewed remotely- - (answers)PACS
Increasing the pulse repetition period - (answers)increases the maximum depth that can be
imaged-(decreases PRF)
*Includes increasing listening time, thus spaced out pulses, lower frequency.
Ultrasound bioeffects with an unfocused beam are not confirmed below : - (answers)100
mW/cm^2 spatial peak temporal average (SPTA)
When can an informed consent be revoked? - (answers)at any time
When should ultrasound probes be disinfected? - (answers)Before and after each use.
Don't be gross. Clean it like your hands.
Define autocorrelation - (answers)mathematical process that analyzes the change in doppler shift
over a short time
Stable cavitation refers to - (answers)microbubbles that oscillate without collapsing with
variations in sound pressure
Which is the least likely to cause Bio-effects?
A. Power Output
B. Thermal Index
C. Exam Time
D. High-Frequency Transducer
E. Mechanical Index - (answers)High Frequency Transducer
Harmonic Frequencies are derived from - (answers)non-linear or asymmetrical wave propagation
Choice Questions and Answers_2025
What is the Standard protocol for digital imaging that allows for compatibility and
communication between computers, workstations, and network hardware provided by various
manufactures of CT, MRI and Ultrasound equipment? - (answers)DICOM - Digital Imaging and
Communication in Medicine
The spatial pulse length decreases - (answers)with higher frequency
Axial resolution is improved by - (answers)damping
......(because it INCREASES the frequency)
Think SHORT and HIGH ! Like Axl Rose from Guns n Roses- just google him.
Lateral resolution is improved by - (answers)decreasing the beam diameter
**Tested at point BandE on the phantom
The beam of an unfocused transducer diverges where? - (answers)In the Fraunhofer zone
Reverberation artifacts are a result of - (answers)The presence of two or more strong reflecting
surfaces
Recommendations for reducing the potential for bioeffects using the ALARA principal is to - -
(answers)Increase receiver gain, decrease output power
What technique can be employed to reduce grating side lobes? - (answers)Apodization,
harmonics, subdicing
"grate off that Ahs!" think skinny..
,Presence of grating lobe and side lobe artifacts are what type of resolution issue? -
(answers)Lateral resolution
A technique that uses an ensemble of pulses to improve penetration and contrast resolution -
(answers)CE - Coded excitation
If a patient is wheeled over from the ER(other dept.) without an ID band, but is a STAT for r/o
DVT- - (answers)Send them back for appropriate identification measures and tagging. Trust NO
ONE! Patients Lie/have altered mental status, nurses are rushed. Just send them back for it to be
done correctly.
Decreasing the spatial pulse length improves - (answers)axial resolution
How much will a 3.5 MHz pulse be attenuated after passing through 2 cm of soft tissue? -
(answers)3.5 dB
(freq / 2) x path length cm = total attenuation dB/cm
Which of the following is the role of the pulse?
A. voltage generation to drive the transducer
B. gain adjustment for the receiver
C. beam focusing
D. beam steering - (answers)Voltage generation to drive the transducer
A long near zone can be obtained by - - (answers)using a higher frequency transducer
Propagation speed errors result in - (answers)improper axial position
Enhancement is caused by - (answers)weakly attenuating structures (such as a cyst)
The doppler shift frequency is directly proportional to - (answers)the velocity of the reflector
,The number of frames per second necessary for a real-time image to be flicker free is -
(answers)>15 - 30 FPS
Any patient who does not speak English clearly, but presents for a procedure requiring a consent
form - What is the most appropriate step? - (answers)Use a certified language line interpreter.
The Intensity of the ultrasound beam is usually greater at the Focal zone because of -
(answers)Smaller beam diameter!!
Focal zone-where the glare of the beam narrows and the Intensity is great!
If the amplitude is doubled, the intensity is - (answers)quadrupled (increased by 4 times- because
they are proportional)
Crank up the AMP! and things get INTENSE too!
The attenuation for soft tissue is increased with - (answers)tissue thickness
The acoustic impedance of the matching layer - (answers)can be chosen to improve transmission
into the body
What is the first step required prior to starting any procedure? - (answers)Verify Name, DOB,
and medical record number. Those are the 3 basic required identifiers every time.
The operating frequency depends on - (answers)the thickness of the crystal.
Thickness = 1/2 the wavelength
The period of an ultrasound wave is - (answers)time to complete one cycle
(Just like a lady..)
The dynamic range of a system - (answers)is the ratio of smallest to largest power level that the
system can handle
, The digital imaging system that allows MRI, CT, ultrasound and xray to store images
electronically and viewed remotely- - (answers)PACS
Increasing the pulse repetition period - (answers)increases the maximum depth that can be
imaged-(decreases PRF)
*Includes increasing listening time, thus spaced out pulses, lower frequency.
Ultrasound bioeffects with an unfocused beam are not confirmed below : - (answers)100
mW/cm^2 spatial peak temporal average (SPTA)
When can an informed consent be revoked? - (answers)at any time
When should ultrasound probes be disinfected? - (answers)Before and after each use.
Don't be gross. Clean it like your hands.
Define autocorrelation - (answers)mathematical process that analyzes the change in doppler shift
over a short time
Stable cavitation refers to - (answers)microbubbles that oscillate without collapsing with
variations in sound pressure
Which is the least likely to cause Bio-effects?
A. Power Output
B. Thermal Index
C. Exam Time
D. High-Frequency Transducer
E. Mechanical Index - (answers)High Frequency Transducer
Harmonic Frequencies are derived from - (answers)non-linear or asymmetrical wave propagation
