• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2014

This study has investigated the effects of the defects in the probe elements influence Doppler images in the medical ultrasonic scanners. This work was implemented that the quality of Doppler images depended on the extent and location of the probe element defected. The probe performance was rated in terms of the number of piezoelectric elements lost and this was studied in the experiment by electrical disconnection to the elements. The results showed that Doppler velocity became rapidly reduced as the defected elements encountered with the element group activated at the Doppler mode, not as the flow velocity. The effect of the probe defect is decreased when the defects occurred at the element group activated for Doppler mode, as was increased the number of the elements. It was observed that the higher the flow velocity of Doppler flow phantom is, the wider the spectrum of Doppler is. And the Doppler velocity soared up and the dispersion of image brightness is increased when the defected elements got out of the elements activated at Doppler mode. The result showed that TADVP(time-average-Doppler-velocity-profile) is decreased with the increase of the probe element defect, especilly in the region of high frequency. It is expected that the research of various defects of probe elements are needed, and this study can be practical tools for probe based ultrasonic QA in the future.