Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 15, Issue 11 775-784, Copyright © 1996 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Spectral and color Doppler sonographic applications of a new test object with adjustable moving target spacing
G. J. Lange and T. Loupas
Ultrasonics Laboratory, CSIRO Division of Radiophysics, Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia.
A new test object has been developed with the aim of covering a wide range
of Doppler quality assurance requirements, with particular emphasis on
color Doppler imaging (both velocity and power modes). The test object
consists of a rotating string-loop, which provides the single velocity
source required for velocity calibration. The loop geometry provides two
targets with adjustable spacing, which move in opposite directions within
the same scan plane, and the string material offers a number of desirable
properties (absence of knot artifacts, small diameter, uniform backscatter
as a function of Doppler angle, and low attenuation). Representative
results are included to demonstrate applications of the test object in the
assessment of velocity accuracy, intrinsic spectral broadening, spatial
resolution, and sensitivity, as well as to discuss quality assurance and
performance issues in the context of spectral and color Doppler sonography.
