American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, Laurel, MD, 2002, $17.95 for AIUM members; $35.95 for non-members.
All ultrasound users should be familiar with equipment quality control, and assessing grayscale performance through routine preventive maintenance as well as test object phantoms. Unfortunately, there are no current standards for assessing the Doppler component of ultrasound equipment. Performance Criteria and Measurements for Doppler Ultrasound Devices is an attempt to address this issue. This document is considered a technical discussion that will be used to formulate an AIUM standard.
Although this is a technical discussion, it is well written and easily accessible to someone without a science background.
The text is separated into six major sections:
- Performance Standards for Doppler Devices
- Performance Criteria for Doppler Devices
- Performance Testing
- Doppler Test Objects
- Glossary of Doppler Terms
- References
I found the comprehensive glossary of Doppler terms to be extremely useful and applicable to everyday use. Sections on color Doppler and ultrasound contrast agents have been included in this edition. The topics are explained well, with recommendations and proposed criteria throughout.
The most interesting section is on performance testing, which explains the different type of Doppler test objects and how they work. There is a list of companies that offer devices for Doppler performance testing. This section is a must-read for anyone considering using the currently available Doppler test objects.
I found this technical document relatively easy to read and understand. I would recommend it to people who work with Doppler ultrasound and are interested in conducting their own performance testing.
By Audrey Fleming, RDMSAuntMinnie.com contributing writer
February 18, 2003
Audrey Fleming is a registered diagnostic medical sonographer with 18 years of experience. She is a member of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, and the Society for Vascular Ultrasound.
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