Computer basiertes Lernprogramm über die physikalisch-technischen Grundlagen der Sonografie beim Kleintier

The computer based training „SonoBasics – physical technical basics
of ultrasound in small animals“ is based on a concept not realised
so far. Many veterinarians lack the knowledge of physical and
technical basics of ultrasound and furthermore the colleagues avoid
to work up the supposedly boring topic in technical literature. Yet
the knowledge of these basics enables the user to achieve good and
significant ultrasound pictures and their correct interpretation.
Therefore, the program on hand is designed to prepare the material
in a didactically meaningful and ergonomically appalling manner at
the same time. Its aim is to present the technical basics in a
playful way to motivate the user and keep the interest in this
topic alive. For the realisation of the idea there were high-end
ultrasound machines available to generate high-quality picture
material. Together with the technical means (software and hardware)
present at the Institut für Tieranatomie (I), the material was
generated and the program designed. First priority was laid on a
vivid explanation of theoretical conditions of sound wave physics
by the use of images in moving form. For that reason the physical
principles are shown in colourful animated graphs. The real
conditions are demonstrated by different original ultrasound
sequences. The layout and the design of the pushbuttons for
navigation and orientation as well as the choice of colours and
print are mainly basing on individual ideas and intuition but
turned out to show great congruence with the requirements found in
present literature. Second priority is the achievement of a
didactic surplus by the design of the program. Crucial for that
matter is the choice of the presenting medium for each lesson as
well as the way the content is set up. The first chapter
“Darstellung“ deals with the existing methods of ultrasound and
compares them with each other. The chapter “Schallkopftypen“
explains the different types of probes. The following two chapters
each separately explain the principle of B-mode ultrasound
(“B-Modus“) and Doppler mode (“Doppler“), their content basing one
on the other in succession. The first three chapters
(“Darstellung”, “Schallkopftypen”, “B-Modus”) are meant to meet the
needs of ultrasound beginners wanting to become familiar with the
elementary basics whereas the chapter about Doppler mode addresses
veterinarians and advanced students of veterinary medicine who want
to broaden their knowledge in this field. The last chapter
”Wissenwertes” deals with basics to be taken into account when
ultrasound pictures are made in everyday usage. The individual
passages can be browsed in an optimal linear way, page by page (as
recommended for beginners). On the other hand, the user can choose
the topics of his interest individually by interactively jumping
from page to page via several navigation possibilities (menu,
viewer, hyperlinks within the text, index). An educational CD has
been created that explains the physical and technical basics of
ultrasound including Doppler mode in small animals in an appalling
manner with numerous animated graphs as well as accurately labelled
ultrasound pictures and clips.