Evaluation of an automatic method for detection of defects in linear and curvilinear ultrasound transducers

• Purpose: The high incidence of defective ultrasound transducers in clinical practice has been shown in several studies. Recently, a novel method using only stored images for automatic detection of defective transducers was presented. The method makes it possible to remotely monitor many transducers at the same time and send a notification when a defective transducer is found. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the novel method and assess how well it performs when compared to an established method as reference. Methods: To evaluate the novel method, in-air images were collected from 81 transducers in radiologic departments in nine hospitals. Two observers assessed the in-air images and marked the defects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)- and alternative free response receiver operating characteristic (AFROC)-curves and their figures of merit (FOM) were calculated for the novel method, using marked defects in the in-air images as reference truth. Results: The area under the ROC curve was 0.88 (SD 0.06), and the AFROC FOM was 0.71 (SE 0.07). Conclusion: The result shows that the novel method has a good agreement with the in-air method for detecting defects in ultrasound systems. This indicates that the novel method could be a complement to the normal quality control for early, and automatic detection of defects.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Transducer

Probe

Ultrasound

quality-control

Radiology

Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)