title: Quick test of ultrasonic transducer arrays radiating in air using B-mode-images.
abstract: This paper describes a statistical procedure working on ultrasound B-mode images that were recorded with the transducer array radiating in air. From the digital image data, a gray value profile was generated using a computer program. A statistical procedure was developed to examine if there are significant deviations from the mean. They occur, for example, when single piezoelements are severely damaged or completely out of function. The entire technique was tested using an ultrasonic imaging system (SonixTouch, Ultrasonix Medical Corporation, Richmond, Canada) in which individual elements or groups of elements can be turned off via firmware. A failure of as large as two out of 128 elements was detectable.
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liebscher
authors.forename: Klaus-Vitold
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Jenderka
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods