Evaluation of the acoustic intensity of new ultrasound therapy equipment.
International safety standards recommend a limit below 30% variation in acoustic intensity for ultrasound therapy (UST) equipment. In view of this question, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the intensity of new UST equipment in the Brazilian market. An evaluation was performed of eight models manufactured by six different national manufacturers; under continuous and pulsed conditions, at frequencies of 1.0-3.0 MHz, for a total of 48 items of equipment. The intensities were analysed according to the technical standards IEC 601-2-5, in the range 0.01-3.0 Wcm(-2), using a radiation pressure scale UPM-DT-10 (Ohmic Instruments), previously calibrated. The results demonstrated that the models Sonacel, Sonacel plus, Sonacel III, Avatar I, and Sonamed I, although they were new (unused) presented calibration errors of over 30% in more than one intensity checked, and the models SONOPULSE, PRO-SEVEN and SONOMASTER ST. are within the standards proposed. The results show that industry must improve quality control on their production lines, as well as that there is a need for a supervising body at national level. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Guirro
Rinaldo
R
Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
Britshcy Dos Santos
Sandra C
SC
D000162:Acoustics; D001938:Brazil; D002138:Calibration; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*