2.9 Disposal
Caution
Lithium battery included with this console. Do not puncture, mutilate or dispose of battery in
fire. Replace only with same type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used battery
according to manufacturers' instructions and in accordance with your local regulations.
Caution
Dispose of the system according to manufacturers' instructions and in accordance with your
local regulations.
The separate collection symbol is affixed to a battery, or its packaging, to advise you that the
battery must be recycled or disposed of in accordance with local or country laws. The letters
below the separate collection symbol indicate whether certain elements (Pb=Lead,
Cd=Cadmium, Hg=Mercury) are contained in the battery. To minimize potential effects on the
environment and human health, it is important that all marked batteries that you remove from
the product are properly recycled or disposed. For information on how the battery may be
safely removed from the device, please consult the service manual or equipment instructions.
2.10 Bioeffects and Safety of Ultrasound Scans
When ultrasound waves travel through tissue, there is a certain risk for damage. There has
been substantial research on the impact that high frequency waves can have on different kinds
of tissues under defined conditions and “There is, to date, no evidence that diagnostic
ultrasound has produced any harm to humans – including the developing fetus.” (Guidelines
for the safe use of diagnostic ultrasound equipment, Safety Group of the British Medical
Ultrasound Society 2010).
Physiological effects due to ultrasound are generally assumed to be deterministic and only
occur above a certain threshold in contrast to ionizing radiation, which causes effects
accidentally. Thus ultrasound examinations can be held very safe if certain proceedings are
followed. It is therefore recommended to read the following sections and study the cited
literature.
2.10.1 Prudent Use – ALARA Principle
In spite of the relatively low risk of ultrasound scans compared to other imaging techniques,
the operator shall choose the exposure level with caution to minimize the risk of bioeffects.
“A fundamental approach to the safe use of diagnostic ultrasound is to use the lowest output
power and the shortest scan time consistent with acquiring the required diagnostic information.
This is the ALARA principle (i.e. As Low As Reasonably Achievable). It is acknowledged that
in some situations it is reasonable to use higher output or longer examination times than in
others: for example, the risks of missing a fetal anomaly must be weighed against the risk of
harm from potential bioeffects. Consequently, it is essential for operators of ultrasound
scanners to be properly trained and fully informed when making decisions of this nature.”
(
Guidelines for the safe use of diagnostic ultrasound equipment, Safety Group of the British
Medical Ultrasound Society 2010)
Special care regarding ALARA should be taken with obstetric examinations as any potential
bioeffects are likely to be of greatest significance in the embryo or fetus.
It is strongly recommended to consider ALARA when undertaking ultrasound scans.
2.10.2 Bioeffects
•
Thermal effects refer to heating of soft tissue and bone
The thermal indices TIs (soft tissue), TIb (bone near focus) and TIc (bone near surface)
were introduced to provide the operator a relative potential for a tissue temperature rise.
It should be noted that a TI of 1 does not necessarily mean that tissues being scanned
will increase in temperature by 1˚C – almost every scanning situation departs from the
Safety
2-18
Voluson™ SWIFT / Voluson SWIFT+ Instructions For Use
5831612-100 Revision 4
Содержание Voluson Swift
Страница 343: ......
