Transfer standard device to improve the traceable calibration of physiotherapy ultrasound machines.
ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2006;
32:1423-9. [PMID:
16965982 DOI:
10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2006.04.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2005] [Revised: 03/13/2006] [Accepted: 03/29/2006] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound (US) physiotherapy as a clinical treatment is extremely common in the Western world. Internationally, regulation to ensure safe application of US physiotherapy by regular calibration ranges from nil to mandatory. The need for a portable power standard (PPS) has been addressed within a European Community (EC)-funded project. This PPS consists of an electrical driver, a set of US transducers and a cavitation detector (CD). Each component has been extensively tested for stability and travel robustness. Transducer output power has been determined with an uncertainty of <3.3% and with a long-term (2-y) output stability of better than 3%. The CD can detect bubble activity for powers above 3 W for a 1-MHz transducer. Travel trials demonstrated the utility of the PPS in practical measurement environments. Deviations in power measurements observed during these trials were mostly acceptable (<10%), although there were also examples of gross differences (>100%). The PPS is now ready to be used to underpin traceable calibration of physiotherapy devices.
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