Patient Safety; Exposure To Ultrasound Energy - Acoustic Output - Siemens ACUSON Cypress Operator's Manual

Patient Safety

There are identifiable hazards that can influence patient safety. These should
be understood before using the system.
Exposure to Ultrasound Energy — Acoustic Output
The ultrasound energy, frequency levels, and scanning times employed by the
Cypress system have not been associated with harmful effects. Regardless, it is
advisable to minimize the patient's exposure to ultrasound. The following steps
provide a guide to reducing exposure:
Conduct an ultrasound scan only when there is a clear and good medical rea-
son for doing so.
Use the lowest possible acoustic transmit setting consistent with obtaining
diagnostically useful images.
Reduce exposure time, even with lower acoustic transmit settings, using
techniques that produce diagnostic data as rapidly as possible.
Use the appropriate transducer for the type of exam being performed.
The maximum output levels provided by the Cypress system are described in
"Reducing Acoustic Exposure on the Cypress System — Implementing ALARA"
on page 10-10.
For a detailed examination of the acoustic output issue, please study the docu-
ment published by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine entitled
Medical Ultrasound Safety that is included with this manual. This document
explains the interaction of ultrasound and tissue, the possibilities and mecha-
nisms of bioeffects, and it explains the output display indices employed by the
Cypress system.
ACUSON Cypress™ Operator's Manual
Patient Safety
10-9