Medical applications of ultrasound range from therapy, foetal monitoring, diagnostic imaging and blood flow measurement, to surgery and lithotripsy. Ever since the earliest developments of medical ultrasound there has been an interest in the measurement and characterisation of the ultrasonic fields generated in these applications, either for assessment of performance of equipment or for safety. Until recently, procedures for acoustic output measurements were ill-defined, but standards are now being developed internationally by the International Electrotechnical Commission (1EC) and reliable commercial measuring equipment is becoming more widely available. The aim of this book is to introduce acoustic output measurement techniques and to provide an insight into the measurement methods. The material presented is based on a course originally run during November 1989 at the National Physical Laboratory. In addition to the lectures, the course consisted of a series of practicals to allow participants to gain experience of making measurements. Teddington, UK Roy C. Preston February 1991 Contents List of Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii List of Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 Safety of Diagnostic Ultrasonic Equipment: The Relevance of Acoustic Output Information to the Clinical User R. C. Preston 1. 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1. 2 The Relevance of Acoustic Output Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1. 2. 1 What Is Acoustic Output Information? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1. 2. 2 What Is Acoustic Output Information Used For? . . . . . . . 6 1. 2. 3 Why Should You Know the Acoustic Output Levels of Your Equipment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1. 2. 4 Are Acoustic Output Levels Really that Important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .