A computational tool as support in B-mode ultrasound diagnostic quality control

Abstract

Introduction: The quality control (QC) of biomedical equipment is a very important process for the quality assurance of the instruments used in diagnoses and treatments. Ultrasound diagnostic imaging is one of the most widely used techniques for diagnostic imaging in hospitals and medical clinics. However, the time required to complete several B-mode imaging QC tests in ultrasound equipment is very critical for a hospital with a high number of exams. Here, we present a computational tool to assist in the acquisition and storage of data from multiple QC tests in B-mode ultrasound diagnostic equipment to promote an effi cient alternative for QC in clinical routines. Methods: The project was planned and implemented in C++ programming language and compiled for two computing platforms: Windows and Linux. The most common QC routine tests for B-mode ultrasound were combined in a simple graphical user interface. Results: After entering all of the correct QC information in the graphical user interface, a fi nal report in PDF format was created. Conclusion: The proposed program has been helpful for students and diagnostic professionals and is a quick and easy application for several QC tests for B-mode ultrasound diagnostic equipment. Our program seeks to help in the dissemination and application of QC tests for B-mode ultrasound equipment in hospitals and clinics and for the technical training of ultrasound professionals.

Ultrassonografia: Princípios Físicos e Controle da Qualidade

“…9 . Naturalmente, como em todo procedimento metrológico, nessas referências há protocolos cuidadosos para a realização das medidas e delimitação dos níveis de aceitação e ação, os quais (em particular as recomendações da AAPM 7 ) serviram de base ou foram adaptados também nos protocolos desenvolvidos no Brasil [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] . A seguir fazemos apenas um breve apanhado dos principais tipos de testes empregados, incluindo, no final, uma justificativa para a implementação de um programa de CQ.…”

“…Há uma série de novos impulsionadores no mercado para a física médica em serviços de imagem de US. Um deles tem sido as exigências de programas de acreditação como o Programa Nacional de Acreditação em Diagnóstico por Imagem (PADI) ou as solicitações 15,19 em contraposição às observações diretas feitas em tela, é mais rica em informação e mais objetiva, mas sua inserção definitiva nos protocolos de rotina parece não ocorrer. Outra questão é o uso de diversos presets pelos radiologistas nos equipamentos modernos, dependendo do tipo de exame realizado (os quais impactam contraste, resolução e outros aspectos das imagens).…”

Metrological assessment of image quality in ultrasonic medical diagnostic equipment

“…The concern with the quality of service rendered in the medical hospital environment is notorious and leads to the search for the maintenance of medical electrical equipment, including the services provided in the diagnostic imaging division, with a range of equipment demanding quality assurance programs (Filho et al 2014;Sipilä et al 2011;King et al 2011;Cozzolino et al 2010;Thijssen et al 2002).…”

“…While some authors have made a statistical analysis with mean and standard deviation (Sipilä et al 2011;Cozzolino et al 2010;Gibson et al 2001), none of them have dealing with uncertainty for the performance parameters. Many of them portray the subjective nature of the quality evaluation of US images using phantoms (Filho et al 2014;Sipilä et al 2011;Gibson et al 2001;Wijk and Thijssen 2002), and some authors discuss the influence of the operator on the evaluation result (Sipilä et al 2011;Cozzolino et al 2010;Gibson et al 2001;Wijk and Thijssen 2002).…”