CQUniversity Unit Profile
MEDS20009 Science and Instrumentation of Ultrasound
Science and Instrumentation of Ultrasound
All details in this unit profile for MEDS20009 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the science and instrumentation of clinical ultrasound to enable you to practically produce and optimise sonographic images to support clinical decision making. The unit emphasis will be on image optimisation, safety and quality assurance. This unit will form the foundation from which you will build image acquisition, recognition and assessment skills as part of the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2022

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 40%
2. Online Test
Weighting: 60%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Moodle unit site 'Have your say' student feedback.

Feedback

Students suggested that a practical component would enhance their understanding, particularly for students that have not used an ultrasound unit before.

Recommendation

Consider developing and adding videos or delivering tutorials with a tutor in front of an ultrasound unit demonstrating the use of the ultrasound unit in real time, and how alteration of controls of the ultrasound unit (such as gain, depth, focus, colour Doppler, pulsed wave Doppler etc) can affect the subsequent real time ultrasound imaging.

Feedback from Moodle unit site 'Have your say' student feedeback.

Feedback

Students comment that unit is content heavy, but felt they were well guided towards assessments.

Recommendation

Continue to use and further develop authentic test questions which relate to the practical use of ultrasound for clinical scenarios. Continue to guide and support students in regular tutorials, providing questions and model answers, to ensure they develop a conceptual understanding of the physics related to clinical sonographic imaging.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply the knowledge of physical principles of diagnostic ultrasound to the acquisition and optimisation of sonographic imaging
  2. Interpret the cause of imaging artifacts and use problem solving skills to reduce and overcome these artifacts on real time sonographic imaging using all modes of ultrasound
  3. Discuss the bioeffects and safety issues associated with diagnostic medical sonography and how these can be managed.




Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%
2 - Online Test - 60%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%
2 - Online Test - 60%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Supplementary

Artifacts in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Volume 1, Grayscale Artifacts 1st (2012)

Edition: 1st (2012)
Authors: Martin Necas
High Frequency Publishing
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 978‐0987292179
Binding: eBook
Supplementary

The physics and technology of diagnostic ultrasound: A practitioner's guide.

Edition: 1st (2012)
Authors: Dr Robert Gill
High Frequency Publishing
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780987292100
Binding: eBook

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Michelle Fenech Unit Coordinator
m.fenech@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 07 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Pulse echo principle and sound parameters Part 1

(Physics principle basics explained, Pulse echo principle and sound paramenters)

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 14 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Pulse echo principles and sound parameters part 2

(Pulsed ultrasound, PRP, PRF, PD, DF, SPL, bandwidth)

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 21 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Reflection of sound and acoustic impedance

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 28 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Ultrasound transducers

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 04 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Ultrasound imaging resolution (spatial, contrast and temporal resolution)

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 11 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Doppler ultrasound part 1

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 25 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Doppler Ultrasound part 2 and haemodynamics

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 02 May 2022

Module/Topic

Ultrasound imaging artifacts

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 09 May 2022

Module/Topic

Bioeffects associated with diagnostic medical ultrasound

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online quiz Due: Week 9 Friday (13 May 2022) 9:00 am AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 16 May 2022

Module/Topic

Advancements in Ultrasound imaging

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 23 May 2022

Module/Topic

Practical use of ultrasound physics - image optimisation

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 30 May 2022

Module/Topic

Bringing the physics together

Chapter

Lectures and notes provided

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 06 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online test (Opens week 12) Due: Review/Exam Week Thursday (9 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

This unit is delivered online. Tutorials can be offered in an interactive manner.  The timing of these will be confirmed after the term commences and will be communicated via email and will appear on the virtual classes tile on the unit Moodle site.

You will need to be familiar with due dates for assessment tasks (which are completed online).

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online quiz

Task Description

An online quiz will be conducted which consists of multi-choice questions.  It will assess you on unit content related to weeks one to five.  The quiz will comprise of multi-choice questions (some calculation may be required, so you will require a calculator to complete this quiz). You will be required to select the most appropriate and correct answer from a selection of possible answers in relation to the question asked.  The quiz will be open for one week prior to the due date.  You will require internet access to complete this online quiz.  


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Friday (13 May 2022) 9:00 am AEST

Note: The quiz must be completed by this time. Open for one week prior to this.


Return Date to Students

Week 11 Monday (23 May 2022)

via Moodle


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

Questions will be related to content of week 1 to week 5 of this unit.  You will need to obtain 50% in this quiz to pass this unit.  


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
The quiz must be completed by you, without assistance of collusion with others.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply the knowledge of physical principles of diagnostic ultrasound to the acquisition and optimisation of sonographic imaging
  • Interpret the cause of imaging artifacts and use problem solving skills to reduce and overcome these artifacts on real time sonographic imaging using all modes of ultrasound


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

2 Online Test

Assessment Title
Online test (Opens week 12)

Task Description

This online test will open in week 12.  It will assess your understanding of all content covered in the unit (weeks 1 to 11).  The questions will include a combination of short answer questions and some multi-choice questions.  The test will be open for one week prior to the due date to allow you to complete it.  


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Thursday (9 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (17 June 2022)

via Moodle


Weighting
60%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

Short answer questions will require typed responses which will be assessed according to:

- use of appropriate sonographic physics terminology

- correct relevance of response to the question asked

- adequate detail provided in the answer to demonstrate a depth of understanding of sonographic physics concepts and their practical application.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
The quiz must be completed by you, without assistance of collusion with others.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply the knowledge of physical principles of diagnostic ultrasound to the acquisition and optimisation of sonographic imaging
  • Interpret the cause of imaging artifacts and use problem solving skills to reduce and overcome these artifacts on real time sonographic imaging using all modes of ultrasound
  • Discuss the bioeffects and safety issues associated with diagnostic medical sonography and how these can be managed.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?