Transfer standard device to improve the traceable calibration of physiotherapy ultrasound machines

Ultrasound (US) physiotherapy as a clinical treatment is extremely common in the Western world. Internationally, regulation to ensure safe application of US physiotherapy by regular calibration ranges from nil to mandatory. The need for a portable power standard (PPS) has been addressed within a European Community (EC)-funded project. This PPS consists of an electrical driver, a set of US transducers and a cavitation detector (CD). Each component has been extensively tested for stability and travel robustness. Transducer output power has been determined with an uncertainty of 100%). The PPS is now ready to be used to underpin traceable calibration of physiotherapy devices. (E-mail: rt.hekkenberg@pg.tno.nl). © 2006 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.