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ARDMS SPI Exam
Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (Page 5 )

Updated On: 7-Feb-2026
Page 5 of 44
PDF with 215 Questions

What adjustment is needed to optimize the color in the image below?

  1. Decrease gain
  2. Increase wall filter
  3. Decrease persistence
  4. Increase pulse repetition frequency

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Increasing the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) helps to optimize the color Doppler imaging by reducing aliasing.

Aliasing occurs when the PRF is too low to accurately sample the rapid blood flow velocities, leading to incorrect color representation.

By increasing the PRF, the system can more accurately measure higher velocities without distortion, improving the overall quality of the color Doppler image.


Reference:

ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation guidelines on Doppler imaging and techniques to reduce aliasing.



What is the primary purpose of backing material in transducers?

  1. Improving axial resolution
  2. Increasing the number of cycles in a pulse
  3. Preventing electrical shock to the operator or patient
  4. Improving acoustic impedance matching

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The backing material, also known as damping material, in an ultrasound transducer serves to dampen the vibrations of the piezoelectric crystal.

This damping reduces the number of cycles in each pulse, leading to a shorter spatial pulse length (SPL).

Shorter SPL improves axial resolution by allowing the system to better distinguish between two closely spaced structures along the axis of the ultrasound beam.

Improved axial resolution is crucial for producing clearer, more detailed images.


Reference:

ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation guidelines on transducer design and the role of backing material in image quality.



During a color Doppler scan, which angle to flow would most likely result in no color being visualized?

  1. 3 degrees
  2. 45 degrees
  3. 88 degrees
  4. 175 degrees

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Color Doppler imaging is most effective when the angle between the ultrasound beam and the flow of blood is small.

At an angle of 88 degrees, the flow of blood is nearly perpendicular to the ultrasound beam.

When the angle is close to 90 degrees, the Doppler shift (frequency change) approaches zero, resulting in little to no color being visualized on the Doppler image.

Thus, to obtain a color signal, the angle should be optimized to be as close to 0 degrees as possible, with 60 degrees being the practical limit for accurate Doppler measurements.


Reference:

ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation guidelines on Doppler angle and its effect on Doppler imaging.



In this image obtained from a tissue-mimicking phantom, which area of the sector is used to evaluate the dead zone?

  1. Option A
  2. Option B
  3. Option C
  4. Option D

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The dead zone in ultrasound imaging refers to the region closest to the transducer where imaging is not possible due to the high amplitude of the initial pulse. In a tissue-mimicking phantom, this is the area where no useful imaging data can be obtained. The purpose of evaluating the dead zone is to ensure that it is as small as possible to maximize the usable imaging depth. In the provided image, Option A represents the area closest to the transducer face, which is typically used to evaluate the dead zone. The other areas are further away and are used for evaluating other parameters such as resolution or depth penetration.


Reference:

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Sonography Principles and Instrumentation guidelines.



Which resolution is degraded when utilizing multiple transmit focal zones?

  1. Temporal
  2. Lateral
  3. Axial
  4. Elevational

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

When utilizing multiple transmit focal zones, the ultrasound system must perform multiple transmissions at each focal depth. This process requires more time for data acquisition, which in turn decreases the frame rate. A lower frame rate directly impacts temporal resolution, which is the ability to accurately depict moving structures over time. Thus, using multiple focal zones improves lateral resolution but degrades temporal resolution.


Reference:

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Sonography Principles and

Instrumentation guidelines.



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