Stan Barnett, PhD
My mission in Boston was to participate in three quite different, but
related, activities that are relevant to my research on bioeffects and
safety of ultrasound and to the interests of the ASUM Safety Committee.
These were (a) participation in and presentation of a paper at an AIUM-sponsored
Workshop on Nonlinear Propagation, (b) participation in the Bioeffects
Committee meeting of AIUM as a liaison member representing ASUM and (c)
attendance and presentation of a paper at the AIUM Conference.
The meeting of
the AIUM seemed to pay more attention than usual to issues about safety
and basic science. This is probably due to two main reasons, namely
the interest and support by the current President of AIUM and the recognition
of the need for a better dissemination of information. Dr Fred Kremkau
is well known for his strong interests in biophysics of ultrasound interactions.
The AIUM Bioeffects Committee has convinced the AIUM Board of Governors
of the need to give greater prominence to safety issues. However, despite
considerable effort on education there is a low level of understanding
of the AIUM/NEMA Output Display Standard (ODS) amongst the medical community
in the USA. There is good reason for this concern as the regulation
of intensity has been relaxed by the FDA on the basis of the anticipated
use of the ODS to make risk/benefit assessments.
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Bulletin
