Geoff,
The problem starts where the acoustic lens or underlying layers are repaired. There are test devices which will check the elements for Element Sensitivity, Capacitance, Pulse Width, Pulse Shape, Center Frequency (MHz) and Fractional Bandwidth (%).
Can I draw your attention to the BMUS publication below:
"Recognising small image quality differences for ultrasound probes and the potential of misdiagnosis due to undetected side lobes"
Georg Doblhoff, Jaroslav Satrapa, Philip Coulthard
First Published January 23, 2017
Taken from the abstract
"Ultrasonic imaging is an integral and routine procedure in many medical applications. An increased awareness of the need for quality assurance in this field has led to numerous tests being proposed. Due to the complexity of the problem, the tests directly measuring the important parameters of resolution and contrast of low-echoic structures are not unified, often more qualitative than quantitative, and are performed at large periodic intervals. Uniform sensitivity of an array transducer is a necessary but insufficient requirement for imaging quality of an ultrasound probe. Good probe uniformity should in no way be confused with meaning the ultrasound probe is working as it should."
Revised post
Regards
Phil C
