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Why Does the Probe Matter?

A Patient-Centered Approach to Ultrasound Probe Management

Fri Apr 10 2015By Other Author

 

A Patient-Centered Approach to Ultrasound Probe Management -Why Does the Probe Matter?

 

It’s no secret that patient safety is of high importance within any facility.  Sometimes, however, it is easy to overlook minor problems that may, in turn, affect the safety of a patient.  When it comes to ultrasound, there are unfortunately a high number of oversights when it comes to the working order of probe.  In our experience at Axess Ultrasound, 75% of all service calls are probe related. ??Think of a probe as the “data transfer device.” If bad data is transferred from the probe to the system due to defects with the probe, then bad data will be delivered through the system.  The system is dependent on the data from the probe so probe problems DO make a difference. Depending on the severity, a real clinical misdiagnosis will result. ??Probes are becoming more and more complex with new technologies such as single crystal arrays, 3D/4D and multiplexed electronics.  With new technologies come new problems like electronic problems, increased testing challenges and more costly repairs/replacements due to higher cost of probe and replacement parts.  Ultrasound probes and systems are now used in a wide range of new clinical applications like MSK, Oncology and Podiatry as well.  And unfortunately, defective probes are in use every day across the U.S.  Below we have provided a sample of how a defective lens could affect the diagnosis of a patient.

 

"Normal" Good Curved Probe

 

Same patient with same model probe, however this probe has a de-laminated lens

So, what can you do in order to minimize damage and lower the repair or replacement costs?  For General Imaging probes, be mindful of impact damage from accidental dropping of the probe.  We are all human and I think everyone has those days where you can’t seem to hang on to anything – but if a probe is dropped, inspect it immediately to evaluate if any obvious damage occurred.  If you notice something is off when the probe is in use, you might want to contact someone (like Axess Ultrasound) to inspect it and run tests to diagnose if there is a problem.  On a regular basis, it is also good for you to visually inspect your probe for punctures of the lens, torn cables/strain reliefs or connector damage.

For TEE probes, not using a bite guard is the number one cause of damage for the obvious reasons – the probe goes down the throat of a patient and their instinct reaction is to bite down, which will cause bite marks and puncture holes in the rubber casing of the probe.  This could cause a whirlwind of problems down the road as more moisture seeps inside the probe causing corrosion or electrical problems.   When talking about patient safety – this poses a huge risk of electrical shock if the probe remains in-use with this damage.

Over-soaking the probe in disinfectant is also a common cause of damage.  Twenty minutes is the average max for Cidex disinfection of probes.  Although it is our instinct to think that the longer you disinfect something, the cleaner it will be – that is definitely not the case with ultrasound probes.  Be sure to always read and follow he OEM’s approved cleaning agents list and follow it!  Using improper cleaning agents could cause more damage in the long run, especially if you are using something with molecular changing substances. 

The probe is a very expensive, yet vital part of ultrasound.  With regular and proper inspections to catch minor defects early on and getting them corrected, this will not only ensure the performance quality of your probe with more accurate diagnosis, but it will also reduce costs for your facility in the long run.  Minor repairs are much less expensive than a major repair or replacement of a probe that has remained in operation after a minor problem continued to get worse after every use.

 

Featured in: Presentation by Bob Broschart at Indiana Biomedical Society Annual Meeting

 

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