Modern Quality Assurance Requirements for Diagnostic Ultrasound Systems and Transducers

Abstract

Physicians rely on the accuracy and quality of the clinical data derived from these ultrasound systems to make informed diagnosis. Consequently these systems must be periodically assessed by medical physicists, or other technically trained Hospital staff to insure they are operating according to factory specifications. A quantitative and objective electronic test device for diagnostic ultrasound systems, known as FirstAssist, has been evaluated as a tool that will provide assurance that the ultrasound unit is providing clinically efficacious data. FirstAssist ultrasound probe emulator and Philips iE33 cardiovascular ultrasound system. Probe emulator device is used to input signals into an ultrasound system to determine the functionality and performance of the ultrasound system in B-mode, Doppler and color flow imaging modes. The probe emulator can determine in the clinical setting that the ultrasound system is performing at a level expected. The FirstAssist is an important new tool that provides the physician with objective evidence that the ultrasound system they are using is providing the clinical data they expect from a fully functioning ultrasound system. FirstAssist also showed data that ultrasound systems in the field may not be functioning properly, but the physician was unaware that a problem existed. FirstAssist is a valuable and powerful new quality assurance tool for testing and ensuring the proper performance of ultrasound systems in the clinical setting.