Akademiliv

Sahlgrenska akademins nyheter

På Svenska
University of Gothenburg Logotype
  • News
  • Notices
  • Grants
  • About Akademiliv
Genre image from Getty images.

Method for detecting ultrasound equipment errors in new doctoral thesis

31 August, 2023

DOCTORAL THESIS. Many ultrasound examinations are conducted using equipment with malfunctions, often without anyone’s knowledge. In his doctoral thesis, Robert Lorentsson reveals that these errors can impact diagnosis, especially when the defects are substantial. He has developed a novel method to detect faulty ultrasound probes through automated analysis of clinical images.

What is the focus of your research?

Cover illustration: The image to the left shows two electrical measurements of the sensitivity of the piezoelectric elements from a transducer that has several defective elements. To the right SDR (Systematic Dark Region) curves are shown for the same transducer for a long period. The occasions for the electrical measurements are marked with multi-colored lines. The SDR curves are blue where the transducer has defects.

”My research aims to evaluate how the technical condition of an ultrasound machine affects the clinical image quality. In an observational study, four experienced radiologists assessed ultrasound images produced both with flawless equipment and with defective probes,” says Robert Lorentsson, a biomedical engineer working in the field of medical physics and biomedical engineering at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

What led you to study faulty probes?

”In fact, annual equipment checks reveal defects in up to 27 percent of the probes. Additionally, the images used in the study involving faulty probes were obtained from clinical use. For 75 percent of the defective probes, the overall image quality was assessed as poorer than that of the faultless ones.”

What are the consequences when ultrasound examinations are conducted with suboptimal equipment?

Robert Lorentsson
Dissertation: September 15, 2023
Doctoral Thesis: How does the technical status of medical ultrasound equipment affect image quality? Studies based on human observer experiments and a novel method for automatic detection of defective transducers
Research Area: Medical Radiation Science
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical Sciences

”It could significantly impact the diagnosis. In the observational study with faulty probes, one question was how confident the observer was that the image artifact resulting from the defect could affect the diagnosis. In 19 percent of the assessments of images from the defective probes, the answer was that the observer was ‘confident that the artifact could impact the diagnosis’.”

How can the usage of defective ultrasound equipment be minimized?

A screenshot from the console used to manage the information from the new method where SDR (Systematic Dark Region) curves for several transducers are handled. Left: scanner/transducer. Middle: median image (top) and area under curve for the SDR curve (bottom). Right: Single SDR curve (top) and SDR curves 3D over time (bottom).

”In my doctoral project, we developed a new method for early detection of faulty probes. This method involves analyzing clinical ultrasound images stored for documentation. When the most recent images are analyzed, defects can be detected. The method identifies darker regions in the images, a characteristic of those produced with defective probes.”

How long does it take to detect malfunctions through image analysis?

”There is a delay of 75-150 images before the defects are identified, which translates to up to two weeks of usage for a frequently used probe. The method can handle both linear and curved probes. Everything is managed by a computer that automatically imports the images and analyzes them for multiple probes simultaneously. A significant advantage of this method is that it doesn’t require access to the ultrasound equipment, thus not disrupting operations.”

What are the most crucial findings in your thesis and what practical value do they offer?

”The realization that defective equipment can even impact diagnoses in certain cases was perhaps the most significant finding. Hopefully, this will lead to more frequent equipment checks, potentially utilizing our self-developed method.”

What have been the main challenges in your doctoral project?

”Ultrasonics technology research has been novel for both me and my supervisors, which made it more challenging. However, there’s been significant experience in observational studies, which has been a major advantage.”

BY: JAKOB LUNDBERG

By: Elin Lindström
Tagged With: avhandling

HAPPY SUMMER!

The newsletter from Akademiliv will return on Wednesday, August 21st.

Contact your institute to add your event to the calendar in the Staff Portal

  • Biomedicine: Kristian Kvint: kalender@biomedicine.gu.se
  • Core Facilities: Amelie Karlsson: amelie.karlsson.2@gu.se
  • Clinical Sciences: Katarina Olinder Eriksson: klinvet@gu.se
  • Medicine: Nina Raun; kommunikation@medicine.gu.se
  • Neuroscience and Physiology: Josefin Bergenholtz; kommunikation@neuro.gu.se
  • Odontology: Johan Thompson; info@odontologi.gu.se
  • Sahlgrenska Academy’s Office and faculty-wide calendar events Åsa Ekvall; info@sahlgrenska.gu.se
  • Health and Care Sciences: Karin Mossberg; vardvetenskap@fhs.gu.se

Information from Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office

[UPDATED JUNE 2024]
The Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office provides an overview of upcoming and current calls, nominations and events in an information letter. This letter is updated on a monthly basis.
Current and previous newsletters are also available in the Staff Portal.

’20 minutes for researchers’ is back – see full spring program

During 20 minutes over Zoom, the Biomedical Library gives tips on tools and services that can facilitate your research everyday life.

More news

En personlig död (A Personal Death) – a chance to win Björn Fagerberg’s new book

27 May, 2024

NEW BOOK. During his career as a physician specializing in internal medicine, Björn Fagerberg has been involved in many end-of-life situations, …  

She is doing her residency in the US with a medical degree from Gothenburg

21 May, 2024

STUDENT. Doing a “residency” in orthopedics in the United States is an unattainable dream for many newly qualified American doctors. Now Janina Ka …  

Alba Corell reports from a high-level brain tumor meeting

20 May, 2024

COLUMN. The recent gathering of the Scandinavian Society of Neuro-oncology (SNOG) in Gothenburg has concluded. Professor Asgeir Jakola hosted and …  

From South Africa to Sweden: Collaborative Research Efforts Improving Pregnant Women’s Health

17 May, 2024

GLOBAL HEALTH. In the bustling Tygerberg University Hospital in Cape Town, a dedicated research team led by Lina Bergman, is on a mission to …  

Sara Bjursten and Anna Wenger are the recipients of the Assar Gabrielsson Prize 2024

17 May, 2024

AWARD. The Assar Gabrielsson Foundation has named Anna Wenger as the winner in the basic science research category and Sara Bjursten as the …  

A full day for PhD students focused on mental health

16 May, 2024

PHD STUDENTS. For the sixth time, PhD students at Sahlgrenska Academy were invited to PhD Day, organized by the Doctoral Student Council. The day …  

Kaj Blennow ranked highest in Sweden in neuroscience

16 May, 2024

AWARD. In this year's edition of the researcher ranking from Research.com in the field of neuroscience, Kaj Blennow is ranked 17th …  

Linda Wass is doing a postdoc at Stanford with ALF funding

14 May, 2024

ALF FUNDING. Biomedical Scientist Linda Wass has just settled in Stanford, California, where she will spend two years as a postdoc. She is the …  

Karin Nilsson wrote the Thesis of the Year at Sahlgrenska Academy in 2023

14 May, 2024

AWARD. Karin Nilsson, currently a postdoc at the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, receives the faculty-wide Thesis of the …  

Some answers from the proposed members of the next Faculty Board

14 May, 2024

FACULTY ELECTIONS. The eight proposed members of the next Faculty Board hereby give some brief answers on how they want to contribute to the work …  

More news...

Sahlgrenska Academy

© University of Gothenburg
PO-Box 100, S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Phone: 00 46 31 786 0000

About the website

Elin Lindström is editor for Akademiliv.
Please feel free to send your ideas and comments to akademiliv@gu.se

Sign up for the Akademiliv newsletter:

Send you tips to Akademiliv

Do you have a suggestion for news, grants, seminars or an education?
Send an email to Elin Lindström Claessen