Dataset Information

3-D Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging With a 2-D Sparse Array.

ABSTRACT: High-frame-rate 3-D ultrasound imaging technology combined with super-resolution processing method can visualize 3-D microvascular structures by overcoming the diffraction-limited resolution in every spatial direction. However, 3-D super-resolution ultrasound imaging using a full 2-D array requires a system with a large number of independent channels, the design of which might be impractical due to the high cost, complexity, and volume of data produced. In this study, a 2-D sparse array was designed and fabricated with 512 elements chosen from a density-tapered 2-D spiral layout. High-frame-rate volumetric imaging was performed using two synchronized ULA-OP 256 research scanners. Volumetric images were constructed by coherently compounding nine-angle plane waves acquired at a pulse repetition frequency of 4500 Hz. Localization-based 3-D super-resolution images of two touching subwavelength tubes were generated from 6000 volumes acquired in 12 s. Finally, this work demonstrates the feasibility of 3-D super-resolution imaging and super-resolved velocity mapping using a customized 2-D sparse array transducer.

SUBMITTER: Harput S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7614008 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

3-D Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging With a 2-D Sparse Array.

Harput Sevan S Christensen-Jeffries Kirsten K Ramalli Alessandro A Brown Jemma J Zhu Jiaqi J Zhang Ge G Leow Chee Hau CH Toulemonde Matthieu M Toulemonde Matthieu M Boni Enrico E Boni Enrico E Tortoli Piero P Eckersley Robert J RJ Dunsby Chris C Tang Meng-Xing MX

IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control 20190925 2

High-frame-rate 3-D ultrasound imaging technology combined with super-resolution processing method can visualize 3-D microvascular structures by overcoming the diffraction-limited resolution in every spatial direction. However, 3-D super-resolution ultrasound imaging using a full 2-D array requires a system with a large number of independent channels, the design of which might be impractical due to the high cost, complexity, and volume of data produced. In this study, a 2-D sparse array was desi ...[more]

PMID: 31562080

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Project description:BackgroundHigh resolution imaging of the microvasculature plays an important role in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the brain. However, ultrasound pulse-echo sonography imaging the brain vasculatures has been limited to narrow acoustic windows and low frequencies due to the distortion of the skull bone, which sacrifices axial resolution since it is pulse length dependent.PurposeTo overcome the detect limit, a large aperture 256-module sparse hemispherical transmit/receive array was used to visualize the acoustic emissions of ultrasound-vaporized lipid-coated decafluorobutane nanodroplets flowing through tube phantoms and within rabbit cerebral vasculature in vivo via passive acoustic mapping and super resolution techniques.MethodsNanodroplets were vaporized with 55 kHz burst-mode ultrasound (burst length = 145 μs, burst repetition frequency = 9-45 Hz, peak negative acoustic pressure = 0.10-0.22 MPa), which propagates through overlying tissues well without suffering from severe distortions. The resulting emissions were received at a higher frequency (612 or 1224 kHz subarray) to improve the resulting spatial resolution during passive beamforming. Normal resolution three-dimensional images were formed using a delay, sum, and integrate beamforming algorithm, and super-resolved images were extracted via Gaussian fitting of the estimated point-spread-function to the normal resolution data.ResultsWith super resolution techniques, the mean lateral (axial) full-width-at-half-maximum image intensity was 16 ± 3 (32 ± 6) μm, and 7 ± 1 (15 ± 2) μm corresponding to ∼1/67 of the normal resolution at 612 and 1224 kHz, respectively. The mean positional uncertainties were ∼1/350 (lateral) and ∼1/180 (axial) of the receive wavelength in water. In addition, a temporal correlation between nanodroplet vaporization and the transmit waveform shape was observed, which may provide the opportunity to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio in future studies.ConclusionsHere, we demonstrate the feasibility of vaporizing nanodroplets via low frequency ultrasound and simultaneously performing spatial mapping via passive beamforming at higher frequencies to improve the resulting spatial resolution of super resolution imaging techniques. This method may enable complete four-dimensional vascular mapping in organs where a hemispherical array could be positioned to surround the target, such as the brain, breast, or testicles.

Project description:BackgroundNoninvasive and functional imaging of the focal liver lesion (FLL) vasculature at microscopic scales is clinically challenging. We investigated the feasibility of using super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) imaging for visualizing and quantifying the microvasculature of intraparenchymal FLLs.MethodsPatients with FLLs between June 2022 and February 2023 were prospectively screened. Following bolus injection of microbubbles at clinical concentration, SR-US was performed using a high frame rate (350-500 Hz) modified ultrasound scanner and a convex array transducer with a central frequency of 3.1 MHz.ResultsIn total, 47 pathologically proven FLLs at a depth of 5.7 ± 1.7 cm (mean ± standard deviation) were included: 30 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), 11 liver metastases (LM), and 6 focal nodular hyperplasias (FNH). The smallest detectable vessel size of the hepatic microvasculature was 128.4 ± 18.6 μm (mean ± standard deviation) at a depth of 8 cm. Significant differences were observed among the three types of lesions in terms of pattern categories, vessel density, minimum flow velocity, and perfusion index. We observed higher vessel density for FNH versus liver parenchyma (p < 0.001) as well as fractal dimension and local flow direction entropy value for FNH versus HCC (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively) and for FNH versus LM (p = 0.006 and p = 0.002, respectively).ConclusionMultiparametric SR-US showed that these three pathological types of FLLs have specific microvascular phenotypes. Vessel density, fractal dimension and local flow direction entropy served as valuable parameters in distinguishing between benign and malignant FLLs.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06018142).Relevance statementMultiparametric SR-US imaging offers precise morphological and functional assessment of the microvasculature of intraparenchymal focal liver lesions, providing insights into tumor heterogeneity and angiogenesis.Key pointsSuper-resolution (SR)-US imaging allowed morphological and functional evaluation of intraparenchymal hepatic lesion microvasculature. Hepatocellular carcinoma, liver metastasis, and focal nodular hyperplasia exhibit distinct microvascular architectures and hemodynamic profiles. Multiparametric microvasculature characterization via SR-US imaging facilitates the differentiation between benign and malignant microvascular phenotypes.

Dataset Information

3-D Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging With a 2-D Sparse Array.

Publications

3-D Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging With a 2-D Sparse Array.

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