Which factor increases the acoustic exposure to the patient?

Increasing the output gain elevates the acoustic exposure to the patient because it amplifies the strength of the ultrasound signal being transmitted into the body. The output gain controls the amount of electrical energy that is converted into an acoustic signal by the transducer. When the output gain is increased, the intensity of the ultrasound waves is higher, resulting in greater acoustic exposure. This increased intensity means that the ultrasound waves travel further into the tissue and can produce stronger echoes, ultimately raising the potential dose of sound energy that the patient is exposed to during the ultrasound examination.

On the other hand, reducing output gain minimizes the intensity of the ultrasound waves, thereby decreasing acoustic exposure. Decreasing pulse duration reduces the amount of time that the sound is on, leading to less energy delivered to the patient. Lowering frequency generally decreases penetration and energy deposition in tissues, as lower frequency ultrasound waves have less energy compared to higher frequency waves. Each of these factors interacts with the overall acoustic exposure, but increasing output gain is the most direct way to elevate that exposure.