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The Impacts of Piezoelectric Elements' Defects On Color & Power Doppler Images

초음파 프로브에서 소자결함이 컬러 및 파워 도플러 영상에 미치는 영향

  • 이경성 (제주한라대학교 방사선과)
  • Received : 2015.10.27
  • Accepted : 2015.12.08
  • Published : 2015.12.31

Abstract

An ultrasound probe has a big impact on Doppler images even though it has very high risk of frequent function-breakdowns occurring in medical ultrasound scanners. This study experimentally analyses the impacts of an ultrasonic probe's defected elements on power & color Doppler images. The results show that, the bigger the size of defected probe elements is, and the closer a group of action elements is to the center, the more the brightness of images and the velocity of Doppler diminish. When elements' defects increase in color & power Doppler images, false images are formed to be mistaken for blood-vessel plaque in neighboring regions. Accordingly, whenever element defects are suspected, we need check-up process in B-mode. From this respective, it is advisable to have primary interest in a probe and carry out continuous probe QA for ultrasonography.

초음파 프로브는 초음파 진단기에서 성능 결함이 발생할 빈도가 매우 높으면서 도플러 영상에 미치는 영향이 크다. 본 연구는 초음파 프로브의 소자 결함이 파워 및 칼러 도플러 영상에 미치는 영향을 실험적으로 살펴 본 것이다. 실험 결과 초음파 프로브 소자 결함은 그 크기가 클수록 도플러 활동 소자군 중심부에 위치할수록 도플러 영상의 밝기 및 도플러 속도를 크게 감소시키는 것으로 나타났다. 컬러 및 파워 도플러 영상에서 소자 결함이 증가할수록 혈관의 주변 부위에서부터 혈관 플라그로 오인할 수 있는 허상이 생기고 있음을 보여 주었다. 따라서 소자결함이 의심될 때는 B-모드에서 확인과정이 필요하다. 이를 볼 때 초음파 검사에 있어서는 우선적으로 프로브에 관심을 가지고 지속적인 초음파프로브 QA가 중요하다.

Keywords

References

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