This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Felkel, S. E. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Ultrasound Safety

Mechanical and Thernal Indices: A Primer

22 Longacre Rd., Needham, MA 02492; Department of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Middlesex Community College, Bedford, Massachusetts.

There have been no reports of human injury attributable to ultrasound exposure since the first examinations were done in the 1950s. Epidemiologic research has proved extremely difficult because of the large number of variables involved, but there is a substantial body of research reporting the disrupting potential of ultrasound exposure on cells, plants, and animals. The Output Display Standard was introduced in 1992 in the interest of increasing the diagnostic capabilities of the medium. It removed application-specific intensity limits and replaced them with indices that are intended to guide the safe administration of examinations. However, the threshold of injury remains elusive. In light of this change, it becomes imperative to understand the dynamics of sound, the conditions that could potentially cause adverse bioeffects, and the controls that can help keep exposure to ultrasound energy as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).

Key Words: bioeffects • cavitation • heating • mechanical index • output display standard • safety • thermal index

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?