Quadrature detection is used in Doppler ultrasound as well as in magnetic resonance imaging and is also called quadrature demodulation or phase quadrature technique. Quadrature detection is the acquisition of Mx and My simultaneously as a function of time by using two separate detector channels. This signal processing method is used for directional Doppler in which the signal reference frequency for the two channels has a phase shift of 1/4 period. The output Doppler signal phase for both channels also depends on the Doppler shift whether positive or negative.
The fast Fourier transform analyzer performs spectral Doppler analysis in ultrasound machines and displays different quadrature Doppler frequencies, when a sample volume cursor is used along time.

The thermal effect of ultrasound is caused by absorption of the ultrasound beam energy. As the ultrasound waves are absorbed, their energy is converted into heat. The higher the frequency, the greater the absorbed dose, converted to heat according the equation: f = 1/T where T is the period as in simple harmonic motion. Ultrasound is a mechanical energy in which a pressure wave travels through tissue. Heat is produced at the transducer surface and also tissue in the depth can be heated as ultrasound is absorbed.
The thermal effect is highest in tissue with a high absorption coefficient, particularly in bone, and is low where there is little absorption. The temperature rise is also dependent on the thermal characteristics of the tissue (conduction of heat and perfusion), the ultrasound intensity and the length of examination time. The intensity is also dependent on the power output and the position of the tissue in the beam profile. The intensity at a particular point can be changed by many of the operator controls, for example power output, mode (B-mode, color flow, spectral Doppler), scan depth, focus, zoom and area of color flow imaging. The transducer face and tissue in contact with the transducer can be heated.

See also Thermal Units Per Hour and Ultrasound Radiation Force.

(TCCS) Transcranial color coded sonography is a combination of B-mode and pulsed wave Doppler. TCCS is used to study morphological and functional assessment of the circle of Willis, intracranial hemodynamics caused by extracranial artery stenosis, collateral flow and the vascular supply of intracranial lesion. Color imaging of the intracranial vessels allows placing the spectral Doppler volume correctly. This modality has encouraged the widespread use.
Contrast enhanced TCCS analysis of cerebral arteriovenous transit time (cTT) is used as a measure of cerebral microcirculation.
The windows that are used for transcranial Doppler examinations include regions where the skull bones are relatively thin or where naturally occurring gaps allow proper penetration of the sound beam.

See also A-Mode, Cranial Bone Thermal Index, Transcranial Doppler and Transcranial Window.

Triplex exam means the use of three ultrasound modalities in a single examination to study blood flow with gray scale imaging, color Doppler and spectral Doppler.

(US) Also called echography, sonography, ultrasonography, echotomography, ultrasonic tomography.
Diagnostic imaging plays a vital role in modern healthcare, allowing medical professionals to visualize internal structures of the body and assist in the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions. Two terms that are commonly used interchangeably but possess distinct meanings in the field of medical imaging are 'ultrasound' and 'sonography.'
Ultrasound is the imaging technique that utilizes sound waves to create real-time images, while sonography encompasses the entire process of performing ultrasound examinations and interpreting the obtained images. Ultrasonography is a synonymous term for sonography, emphasizing the use of ultrasound technology in diagnostic imaging. A sonogram, on the other hand, refers to the resulting image produced during an ultrasound examination.
Ultrasonic waves, generated by a quartz crystal, cause mechanical perturbation of an elastic medium, resulting in rarefaction and compression of the medium particles. These waves are reflected at the interfaces between different tissues due to differences in their mechanical properties. The transmission and reflection of these high-frequency waves are displayed with different types of ultrasound modes.
By utilizing the speed of wave propagation in tissues, the time of reflection information can be converted into distance of reflection information. The use of higher frequencies in medical ultrasound imaging yields better image resolution. However, higher frequencies also lead to increased absorption of the sound beam by the medium, limiting its penetration depth. For instance, higher frequencies (e.g., 7.5 MHz) are employed to provide detailed imaging of superficial organs like the thyroid gland and breast, while lower frequencies (e.g., 3.5 MHz) are used for abdominal examinations.

Ultrasound in medical imaging offers several advantages including:

Diagnostic ultrasound imaging is generally considered safe, with no adverse effects. As medical ultrasound is extensively used in pregnancy and pediatric imaging, it is crucial for practitioners to ensure its safe usage. Ultrasound can cause mechanical and thermal effects in tissue, which are amplified with increased output power. Consequently, guidelines for the safe use of ultrasound have been issued to address the growing use of color flow imaging, pulsed spectral Doppler, and higher demands on B-mode imaging. Furthermore, recent ultrasound safety regulations have shifted more responsibility to the operator to ensure the safe use of ultrasound.

See also Skinline, Pregnancy Ultrasound, Obstetric and Gynecologic Ultrasound, Musculoskeletal and Joint Ultrasound, Ultrasound Elastography and Prostate Ultrasound.