Abstract
Commercially available ultrasound quality assurance test phantoms rely on the long-term acoustic stability of the tissue-mimicking-material (TMM). Measurement of the acoustic properties of the TMM can be technically challenging, and it is important to ensure its stability. The standard technique is to film-wrap samples of TMM and to measure the acoustic properties in a water bath. In this study, a modified technique was proposed whereby the samples of TMM are measured in a preserving fluid that is intended to maintain their characteristics. The acoustic properties were evaluated using a broadband pulse-echo substitution technique over the frequency range 4.5–50 MHz at 0, 6 and 12 months using both techniques. For both techniques, the measured mean values for the speed of sound and attenuation were very similar and within the International Electrotechnical Commission-recommended value. However, the results obtained using the proposed modified technique exhibited greater stability over the 1-y period compared with the results acquired using the standard technique.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1494-1505 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2017 |
Keywords
- Attenuation coefficient
- High frequency
- Long term
- Speed of sound
- Tissue-mimicking material
- Ultrasound
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
- Acoustics and Ultrasonics