If Pulsed Wave and Continuous Wave have the same Spatial Average Temporal Peak (SATP), what intensity is higher for Continuous Wave?

In the context of ultrasound and the different intensity measurements, Continuous Wave (CW) ultrasound typically has a higher intensity value in certain categories compared to Pulsed Wave (PW) ultrasound when both have the same Spatial Average Temporal Peak (SATP).

The Spatial Average Intensity (SATA) represents the average intensity of the ultrasound beam spatially averaged over the area of the beam at a specific point in time. Since Continuous Wave ultrasound emits a continuous signal without interruption, the intensity remains consistently high throughout the exposure. In comparison, Pulsed Wave ultrasound has periods of no transmission, resulting in lower effective intensity during those off periods.

When comparing the two, for Continuous Wave wherein the same SATP is maintained, the Spatial Average Intensity (SATA) will indeed be higher than that of Pulsed Wave. This is largely due to the fact that the power is delivered continuously in CW mode, leading to a higher average intensity over time compared to PW, which has fluctuations due to its pulsed nature. Therefore, in this scenario, the correct choice indicating that Continuous Wave possesses a higher intensity is the Spatial Average Intensity (SATA).