[Results of a study of quality control of diagnostic ultrasound equipment]

In this paper results of a quality control programme for B-mode ultrasound equipment used in clinical routine are presented. Over a period of 18 months 5 modern scanners with altogether 19 scanheads were periodically controlled.

The methods used for measuring the various performance parameters of an ultrasound equipment followed closely standard methods. All measurements were carried out with commercially available tissue-mimicking phantoms, and documented in a uniform protocol.

Based on the results it was found that 11 of the scanheads did not operate correctly; 2 additional ones were severely defective. Only 6 scanheads were without loss of image quality or function. For the 13 malfunctioning scanheads adjustments, repair or even an exchange was necessary.

The study demonstrates that quality control performed periodically is necessary to ensure optimal image quality and safe operation of the equipment.