A precise, reproducible method for measuring ultrasound probe slice thickness using a Gammex 403 phantom

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Ultrasound Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate measurement of ultrasound probe slice thickness is crucial for diagnostic imaging quality.
• Existing methods may not fully capture performance changes over time, such as those due to lens wear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a precise and reproducible method for measuring the slice thickness of linear array ultrasound probes.
• To assess the method's ability to detect variations in slice thickness across the probe face and over time.

Main Methods:

• A custom jig was employed to move the ultrasound probe along a Gammex 403 phantom.
• Image acquisition was performed at 0.5 mm intervals with the image plane parallel to phantom filaments.
• In-house software was utilized for post-processing and slice thickness calculation.

Main Results:

• The developed method achieved a precision of 0.1 mm for slice thickness measurements.
• Repeatability tests demonstrated reproducible estimates within 0.4 mm at various depths.
• The method provided insights into slice thickness variations across different sections of the probe.

Conclusions:

• The new method offers a precise and reproducible approach to measuring ultrasound probe slice thickness.
• This technique can potentially quantify performance degradation from lens wear or replacement, surpassing conventional tests.
• The study involved testing 18 linear probes across multiple centers, including specialized vascular ultrasound facilities.