CSN025 Principles of Medical Ultrasound

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Online

Overview

The field of medical ultrasound is scientifically based in an environment that is rapidly changing and undergoing considerable technological advancement. Understanding the physical processes of ultrasound, the equipment design features and the interactions of sound in human tissue are essential for professionals working in this field. This unit is offered as a foundation unit early in the program to ensure you have a fundamental understanding of the physical principles of ultrasound; the knowledge gained can then be applied directly to practice and to other units offered in the ultrasound courses.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply the physical principles of ultrasound - tissue interactions to explain the production of diagnostic quality ultrasound images.
2. Explain the components and performance controls of modern ultrasound equipment and their impact on imaging quality.
3. Investigate current ultrasound technologies and justify their application in medical ultrasound diagnosis.
4. Apply problem solving and specialised quality control skills to understand and minimise sources of artifacts and the potential for bioeffects when using diagnostic ultrasound equipment.

Content

Learning Approaches

The unit is delivered online via QUT's Learning management system (LMS). It combines online lectures and example problem sets for self-paced learning. Real-world examples within the unit content combined with authentic problem-based exercises support your learning and will develop your knowledge of ultrasound principles which can apply to your day-to-day practice. Themed online discussions and guided screencasts support lecture material, encouraging you to develop a deeper understanding of the material. 

Details of how to access additional support for learning in maths is provided early in the semester via the student support group. The QUT library also provides academic support and training to students throughout the semester via drop-in sessions.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Formative and Summative feedback is provided throughout the semester, where work is reviewed and assessed. Automated feedback is provided on practice exams and example problem-solving task. Feedback will aim to provide you with suggestions for further development of academic skills as well as suggestions to best prepare you for key summative assessments.

Assessment

Overview

In this unit you will complete three summative assessments: an early online quiz and problem-solving exercise during semester, and the end-of-semester examination. Each assessment is staged to scaffold your learning as your progress through the unit content. 

Formative assessment is via example problem sets published on the unit site as well as interaction with classmates and teaching staff via the unit discussion board.

In this unit, for you to be eligible to receive a passing grade, threshold assessment conditions apply.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Online Quiz

Test questions focus on calculations and will be administered online. The quiz will assess your knowledge of content covered in the unit thus far.

Assessment: Problem Solving Exercise

Taking on the role of a diagnostic sonographer, you will encounter a series of scenario-based clinical problems. You will analyse these problems and propose potential solutions in your response. Your response should include details of your analysis, calculations and interpretation of data. You will communicate your proposed solutions including an explanation of the interactions of ultrasound within the human body and how these can be adapted to optimise image quality and diagnostic accuracy. Your responses should be written for sonographic colleagues and may include references to how your proposed approaches reflect evidence-based best practice.

Assessment: Examination

(Summative) - Examination combining MCQ, short answers and essay-type questions.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold conditions apply for this assessment task. Therefore you must achieve 50% or better for this assessment task to receive a passing grade for this unit. If you do not achieve the pass level for this assessment task, you can make one resubmission of this work only when the achieved mark/grade is at least 40%. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator before resubmission.  

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Kremkau, F.W. (2015). Sonography: Principles and Instruments (9th ed.). St Louis: Elsevier - Health Sciences. ISBN : 9780323322713

Gill, R. (2020). The Physics and Technology of Diagnostic Ultrasound: A Practitioner's Guide (2nd ed.) High-Frequency Publishing. ISBN: 9780987292186

Gill, R. (2020). The Physics and Technology of Diagnostic Ultrasound: Study Guide (2nd ed.) High-Frequency Publishing. ISBN: 9780987292193

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

CS60 Graduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound

1. Acquire and apply advanced specialist knowledge of the principles and techniques of medical ultrasound imaging
   Relates to: Problem Solving Exercise