Measuring Sound Beam Intensity - Video Lesson

Hey, everybody. Welcome back to our series on ultrasound physics. This lesson takes a look at the topics of energy and sound intensity in sonographic imaging. We'll discuss how sound beam intensity is measured and its relationship to image quality and patient safety. When you perform an ultrasound scan, you're not just capturing images with sound waves, you're working with energy, and that energy interacts with tissues in ways that can impact both image quality and patient safety. Understanding sound beam intensity is critical for ensuring diagnostic accuracy and maintaining safe scanning practices. First, let's talk about intensity. In ultrasound, intensity refers to the concentration of power in a specific area of the ultrasound beam. Intensity is typically measured in milliwatts per square centimeter. It is important to note though that intensity is not constant throughout the sound beam. It varies with depth, beam focus, or size.