Cover Image

Evaluation of image quality in five different handheld ultrasound devices and analysis of various impact factors = Untersuchung der Bildqualität von 5 unterschiedlichen Handheld-Ultraschallgeräten und Analyse diverser Einflussfaktoren

Handheld ultrasound (HHUS) devices are increasingly used in clinical practice due to their portability and cost-effectiveness. However, HHUS image quality remains variable, and a standardized expert-based evaluation protocol is lacking. This study compares the image quality of B-mode recordings of f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Naas, Antje (Author) , Kober, Julian (Author) , Trittler, Tönnis (Author) , Nauber, Richard (Author) , Dorausch, Edgar Manfred Gustav (Author) , Kampfrath, Nicole (Author) , Brinkmann, Franz (Author) , Arsova, Maia (Author) , Husman, Julia (Author) , Langanke, Robert (Author) , Sulk, Stefan (Author) , Matthes, Katja (Author) , Gabriel, Tina (Author) , Teufel, Andreas (Author) , Behrendt, Patrick (Author) , Markova, Antoaneta (Author) , Franck, Martin (Author) , Jenssen, Christian (Author) , Merkel, Daniel (Author) , Blank, Valentin (Author) , Karlas, Thomas Franz Clemens (Author) , Seeger, Marcus (Author) , Eckart, Marius Andreas (Author) , Poralla, Lukas (Author) , Lehmann, Malte (Author) , Staudacher, Jonas (Author) , Ziesch, Matthias (Author) , Aland, Julia (Author) , Herzog, Lueder (Author) , Herzog, Angelika (Author) , Jürgensen, Christian (Author) , Fettweis, Gerhard Paul (Author) , Hampe, Jochen (Author) , Herzog, Moritz (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 2026
In: Ultraschall in der Medizin

ISSN:1438-8782
DOI:10.1055/a-2809-7627
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2809-7627
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/a-2809-7627
Get full text
Author Notes:Authors: Antje Naas, Julian Kober, Tönnis Trittler, Richard Nauber, Edgar Manfred Gustav Dorausch, Nicole Kampfrath, Franz Brinkmann, Maia Arsova, Julia Husman, Robert Langanke, Stefan Sulk, Katja Matthes, Tina Gabriel, Andreas Teufel, Patrick Behrendt, Antoaneta Markova, Martin Franck, Christian Jenssen, Daniel Merkel, Valentin Blank, Thomas Karlas, Marcus Seeger, Marius Andreas Eckart, Lukas Poralla, Malte Lehmann, Jonas Staudacher, Matthias Ziesch, Julia Aland, Lueder Herzog, Angelika Herzog, Christian Jürgensen, Gerhard Paul Fettweis, Jochen Hampe, Moritz Herzog
Description
Summary:Handheld ultrasound (HHUS) devices are increasingly used in clinical practice due to their portability and cost-effectiveness. However, HHUS image quality remains variable, and a standardized expert-based evaluation protocol is lacking. This study compares the image quality of B-mode recordings of five HHUS models with a high-end reference system (HEUS) using a blinded assessment to identify differences, covariates, offering a standardized evaluation framework. In this blinded, multi-center study, video sequences of the liver, pancreas, and sigmoid colon were recorded in ten volunteers using 5 HHUS devices - Vscan Air, Butterfly iQ+, Philips Lumify, Clarius C3, and Clarius C3 HD3 - and one HEUS (GE Logiq E10). Twenty-two physicians with many years of abdominal ultrasound experience rated blinded clips for 5 image quality parameters. The HEUS consistently received the highest ratings. Image quality differed significantly between HHUS devices. Clarius systems showed the smallest deviation from the reference, followed by Vscan Air and Philips Lumify. All image parameters significantly correlated with the overall impression, without a single dominant factor. The patients’ BMI had no relevant influence. Examiner experience was less impactful than device familiarity and personal preference. The image quality of HEUS remained superior to all tested HHUS devices. Further subdivision of image quality aspects did not provide additional information. Furthermore, we could not identify significant covariates in our setup. These findings could justify simplified setups with reduced questionnaires and requirements for examiners.
Item Description:Artikel online veröffentlicht: 26. März 2026
Gesehen am 16.04.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1438-8782
DOI:10.1055/a-2809-7627

Similar Items