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Updated: Dec 28, 2025
An Experimental Protocol for Assessing the Performance of New Ultrasound Probes Based on CMUT Technology in Application to Brain Imaging
Published on: September 24, 2017
Probe position sensor to track image location in 2D ultrasound
Kristina L Khaw1, Anush Sridharan2, Laura Poznick2
1Department of Bioengineering, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, United States.
Background:
Two-dimensional ultrasounds (2D US) have low reproducibility of given images in later sessions and often depend on the operator's experience.
Purpose:
Due to difficulties in reproducing images in 2D US separated in time, a device to track the position of the ultrasound probe was created. This device aims to measure the probe position angle in two axes for 2D US to provide accurate repositioning of the 2D US probe for repeatability of the desired imaging plane.
Materials And Methods:
The device uses an inclinometer with an Arduino microprocessor to determine the angle of the ultrasound probe to subsequently establish the specific position coordinates of the probe. To test the effectiveness of this device, a 2D US probe was placed on a frontal burr hole of a neonatal swine to image the brain.
Results:
When fixing the point of contact, using the probe with the angle sensing device helped the operator reproduce images that were both visually and positionally similar. This attachment allows the probe to return to the same image with at least 95% similarity in between different sessions, based on evaluations using an image analysis Matlab program. The sensor can return images of the same location with landmarks within the tolerance of 1.400°.
Conclusion:
This device could potentially improve 2D US image reproducibility such that accuracy of images between sessions is increased, thereby increasing the reproducibility of 2D US in diagnostic and interventional procedures.
