Performance evaluation of pocket echo using an ultrasonic accuracy control phantom

Abstract

In addition to being used in hospitals, ultrasound systems are used in many other medical settings such as disaster relief and home care. In these types of settings, it is important to be able to perform a large number of examinations easily and efficiently. Portable ultrasound systems can be used to meet such needs. The evaluation of ultrasound systems has been driven by the development of accuracy control methods used in breast examinations. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of portable ultrasound systems that have not yet been fully investigated. The performance of two ultrasound systems was evaluated using three measures. For physical evaluation, the change in the mean pixel value of the target and the contrast-to-noise ratio were obtained for each ultrasound system. Statistical analyses were performed to compare these measures between the two systems. For visual evaluation, a receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed. The results of the physical and visual evaluations showed no statistically significant differences between the portable ultrasound systems we evaluated and those that are commonly used in clinical practice.