Ernest L Madsen PhD, Presenter: Pending Research Grant, Gammex, Inc

Chihwa Song PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Meagan Deaner, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Gammex, Inc

Gary R. Frank, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The final refined version of the phantom, plus its low cost and small yearly time commitment, promise to result in acceptance of periodic clinical QA by users and by influential organizations such as the IEC, ACR and AIUM.

For decades, phantoms for QA of gray-scale US scanners have been less and less frequently used in the clinic because of large time commitment and questionable efficacy. A 4-year study at the Mayo Clinic found that assessing only 3 parameters, viz, element or channel failure (ECOF), maximum depth of penetration (MDOP), and distance measurement accuracy (DMA), once or twice per year, is sufficient. Phantoms used in that study, however, were ad hoc and likely not practical for average clinical users. A prototype phantom with long-term stability and for determining all 3 parameters for transducers with most sizes and shapes has been made. Two conical scanning windows on opposite sides provide for necessary direct contact with emit & receive elements of many curved arrays. (Direct contact is required for ECOF and DMA.) A modification is needed to accommodate curved arrays with any radius of curvature between 0.5 cm and 7 cm and sector angles up to 170o. A flat scanning window exists on one end of the phantom for non-curved arrays and MDOP. 8 parallel fibers provide for DMA and the 20 cm length provides for MDOP. The tissue-mimicking material has a propagation speed of 1540 m/s and attenuation of 0.5 dB/cm/MHz; thus, realistic determinations of MDOP and DMA are provided for. Computer analyses of averaged cine loop images are required for ECOF and MDOP.

Madsen, E, Song, C, Deaner, M, Frank, G, Phantom for Periodic Quality Assurance (QA) of Gray-scale Ultrasound (US) Scanners Using Transducers of Any Size and Shape.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12043638.html