title: How perfect are you with defective probes? Information on the results of the mini-trial on technical quality assurance during the "Ultraschall 2012" conference in Davos.
abstract: This article deals with the technical quality assurance of ultrasound B-systems. As part of a mini-trial during the Dreiländertreffen in Davos "Ultrasound 2012", we addressed the question as to whether physicians can detect faulty probes spontaneously during live scanning B-mode. For this purpose a special diagnostic device had been prepared so that groups of piezoelectric elements in the array were without function. Then the images had to be characterized by test persons without knowledge of the faulty elements. The results show that a deterioration of the image could be detected starting at five disabled elements. Due to the small number of test persons, our statements are only preliminary.
authors.affiliation: FB Ingenieur- und Naturwissenschaften, Hochschule Merseburg, Merseburg, Germany. eike.rosenfeld@hs-merseburg.de
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: K-V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Jenderka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Keim
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008511:Medicine; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014159:Transducers / Q000592:standards; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards