After the correct transducer has been selected, the operator must select a specific body area pre-set.
When the relevant body area is selected, the machine will default to a range of settings that are optimised by the manufacturer for that target area. This will include settings affecting penetration, resolution, frame rate etc.
It is important to choose the correct transducer/pre-set combination. It is not uncommon to observe inexperienced operators struggling to image deep into a large patient with these initial settings optimised for superficial structures. Inevitably, image quality will be poor and may be non-diagnostic.
Click the image to see a larger version.