Ultrasound System Typologies, User Interfaces and Probes Design: A Review

The present review paper aims to give insights regarding what is available now, and will be in the next future, on the Market in terms of Ultrasound (US) system User Interfaces characteristics and peculiarities; US system typologies and probe typologies. Moreover, insights regarding ergonomics evaluation technologies and techniques for US systems, User Interface and transducers design evaluation, will be provided as well. The User interface ergonomics of US systems and probes is of primary importance due to the increased use in the everyday clinical practice even by non-sonographers, and the higher attention to the Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD). A large overview and review of market data, side by side tests, websites, interviews to US users, marketing and sales professionals, scientific and educational publications was carried out in order to collect all available data as well as to show and describe them to the reader. Nowadays US market offers many different typologies of systems and probes, with different prices, features, quality level and targets of use. Users have to be aware to increase their level of knowledge in order to perform the best choice in terms of price/performance ratio and in terms of ergonomics and workflow requirements. The same level of knowledge is necessary also for other stakeholders of the US imaging Lab and purchasing/test decision phases such as Clinical and Biomedical Engineers involved in technical decision related to capital equipment and their maintenance. Final users expect technical innovations every 6-12 months in order to ensure technical-clinical improvements and company commitment to research and customer focus. Such characteristics are important clues showing a fast moving of the US market from a capital equipment basis to a more mass-consumer approach characterized by fast innovations, quick obsolescence and consumer prone attitude to system rotation in order to have always the more up-to-date technology, product, probe available on the Market.