LIVIVO - The Search Portal for Life Sciences

zur deutschen Oberfläche wechseln
Advanced search

Search results

Result 1 - 10 of total 18

Search options

  1. Article ; Online: A Radon diffraction theorem for plane wave ultrasound imaging.

    Schwab, Hans-Martin / Lopata, Richard

    The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

    2023  Volume 153, Issue 2, Page(s) 1015

    Abstract: The rising demand on high frame rate ultrasound imaging applications necessitates the development of fast algorithms for plane wave image reconstruction. We introduce a new class of plane wave reconstructions that relies on a relation between receive ... ...

    Abstract The rising demand on high frame rate ultrasound imaging applications necessitates the development of fast algorithms for plane wave image reconstruction. We introduce a new class of plane wave reconstructions that relies on a relation between receive data and image data in the Radon domain. This relation is derived for arbitrary dimensions and validated on multiple two-dimensional plane wave data sets. We further present a mathematical relation between conventional delay-and-sum and Fourier domain reconstruction methods and the method proposed. Our analysis shows that they all rely on the same physical model with slight variations in certain filtering steps and, therefore, the new Radon domain reconstruction yields similar results as other methods in terms of image quality. However, we show that our method offers a huge potential to improve computation time by reducing the number of applied projections and to improve image quality by introducing nonlinear operations in the Radon domain, e.g., for edge enhancement. As the Radon transform retains both angular and temporal information, the relation also provides new insights on the fundamentals of plane wave imaging that can be leveraged for optimizing acquisition schemes or for developing novel compounding strategies in the future.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-03-01
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 219231-7
    ISSN 1520-8524 ; 0001-4966
    ISSN (online) 1520-8524
    ISSN 0001-4966
    DOI 10.1121/10.0017245
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  2. Article ; Online: Increasing abdominal aortic aneurysm curvature visibility using 3D dual probe bistatic ultrasound imaging combined with probe translation.

    Jansen, Larissa C / Fekkes, Stein / Schwab, Hans-Martin / Lopata, Richard G P

    Ultrasonics

    2024  Volume 139, Page(s) 107284

    Abstract: High frame rate ultrasound (US) imaging techniques in 3D are promising tools for capturing abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) over time, however, with the limited number of channel-to-element connections current footprints are small, which limits the ... ...

    Abstract High frame rate ultrasound (US) imaging techniques in 3D are promising tools for capturing abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) over time, however, with the limited number of channel-to-element connections current footprints are small, which limits the field of view. Moreover, the maximal steering angle of the ultrasound beams in transmit and the maximal receptance angle in receive are insufficient for capturing the curvy shape of the AAA. Therefore, an approach is needed towards large arrays. In this study, high frame rate bistatic 3D US data (17 Hz) were acquired with two synchronized matrix arrays positioned at different locations (multi-aperture imaging) using a translation stage to simulate what a larger array with limited channel-to-element connections can potentially achieve. Acquisitions were performed along an AAA shaped phantom with different probe tilting angles (0 up to ± 30°). The performance of different multi-aperture configurations was quantified using the generalized contrast-to-noise ratio of the wall and lumen (gCNR). Furthermore, a parametric model of the multi-aperture system was used to estimate in which AAA wall regions the contrast is expected to be high. This was evaluated for AAAs with increasing diameters and curvature. With an eight-aperture 0° probe angle configuration a 69 % increase in field of view was measured in the longitudinal direction compared to the field of view of a single aperture configuration. When increasing the number of apertures from two to eight, the gCNR improved for the upper wall and lower wall by 35 % and 13 % (monostatic) and by 36 % and 13 % (bistatic). Contrast improvements up to 22 % (upper wall) and 12 % (lower wall) are achieved with tilted probe configurations compared to non-tilted configurations. Moreover, with bistatic imaging with tilted probe configurations gCNR improvements up to 4 % (upper wall) and 7 % (lower wall) are achieved compared to monostatic imaging. Furthermore, imaging with a larger inter-probe distance improved the gCNR for a ± 15° probe angle configuration. The gCNR has an expected pattern over time, where the contrast is lower when there is more wall motion (systole) and higher when motion is reduced (diastole). Furthermore, a higher frame rate (45 Hz) yields a lower gCNR, because fewer compound angles are used. The results of the parametric model suggest that a flat array is suitable for imaging AAA shapes with limited curvature, but that it is not suitable for imaging larger AAA shapes with more curvature. According to the model, tilted multi-aperture configurations combined with bistatic imaging can achieve a larger region with high contrast compared to non-tilted configurations. The findings of the model are in agreement with experimental findings. To conclude, this study demonstrates the vast improvements in field of view and AAA wall visibility that a large, sparsely populated 3D array can potentially achieve when imaging AAAs compared to single or dual aperture imaging. In the future, larger arrays, less thermal noise, more steering, and more channel-to-element connections combined with carefully chosen orientations of (sub-) apertures will likely advance 3D imaging of AAAs.
    MeSH term(s) Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography/methods
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-03-02
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 200839-7
    ISSN 1874-9968 ; 0041-624X
    ISSN (online) 1874-9968
    ISSN 0041-624X
    DOI 10.1016/j.ultras.2024.107284
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  3. Article ; Online: Automatic Probe Localization in Multiaperture Ultrasound by Radon Domain Signal Matching.

    Schwab, Hans-Martin / Lopata, Richard G P

    IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control

    2023  Volume 70, Issue 10, Page(s) 1329–1338

    Abstract: In multiaperture ultrasound, several ultrasound probes with different insonification angles are combined to increase the field of view and angular coverage of image structures. A full reconstruction incorporating all possible combinations of transmitting ...

    Abstract In multiaperture ultrasound, several ultrasound probes with different insonification angles are combined to increase the field of view and angular coverage of image structures. A full reconstruction incorporating all possible combinations of transmitting and receiving probes has been shown to improve resolution, contrast, and angular coverage beyond what can be achieved by the registration of single images from different probes. A major challenge in multiaperture imaging is the correct determination of relative probe locations. A registration based on the content of images from different probes is challenging due to the decorrelation of image structures and speckle with increasing angle between the probes. We propose a probe localization method for plane-wave ultrasound that uses solely the receive dataset of a nontransmitting probe. The localization is performed by signal tracking in the Radon domain. To demonstrate that the method does not rely on common structures in the individual images, we show that a satisfying localization can be performed in pure speckle for angles, where the speckle patterns have completely decorrelated. The method shows potential for real-time probe localization in free-hand multiprobe ultrasound imaging or for flexible and wearable multiarray combination of multiple capacitive micromachined (CMUT)-based systems in the future.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-10-17
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 1525-8955
    ISSN (online) 1525-8955
    DOI 10.1109/TUFFC.2023.3306033
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  4. Article ; Online: Enhanced Needle Visualization With Reflection Tuned Apodization Based on the Radon Transform for Ultrasound Imaging.

    Malamal, Gayathri / Schwab, Hans-Martin / Panicker, Mahesh Raveendranatha

    IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control

    2023  Volume 70, Issue 11, Page(s) 1482–1493

    Abstract: In ultrasound (US)-guided interventions, accurately tracking and visualizing needles during in-plane insertions are significant challenges due to strong directional specular reflections. These reflections violate the geometrical delay and apodization ... ...

    Abstract In ultrasound (US)-guided interventions, accurately tracking and visualizing needles during in-plane insertions are significant challenges due to strong directional specular reflections. These reflections violate the geometrical delay and apodization estimations in the conventional delay and sum beamforming (DASB) degrading the visualization of needles. This study proposes a novel reflection tuned apodization (RTA) to address this issue and facilitate needle enhancement through DASB. The method leverages both temporal and angular information derived from the Radon transforms of the radio frequency (RF) data from plane-wave imaging to filter the specular reflections from the needle and their directivity. The directivity information is translated into apodization center maps through time-to-space mapping in the Radon domain, which is subsequently integrated into DASB. We assess the influence of needle angulations, projection angles in the Radon transform, needle gauge sizes, and the presence of multiple specular interfaces on the approach. The analysis shows that the method surpasses conventional DASB in enhancing the image quality of needle interfaces while preserving the diffuse scattering from the surrounding tissues without significant computational overhead. The work offers promising prospects for improved outcomes in US-guided interventions and better insights into characterizing US reflections with Radon transforms.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-11-01
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 1525-8955
    ISSN (online) 1525-8955
    DOI 10.1109/TUFFC.2023.3316284
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  5. Article ; Online: Coherent Bistatic 3-D Ultrasound Imaging Using Two Sparse Matrix Arrays.

    De Hoop, Hein / Vermeulen, Marieke / Schwab, Hans-Martin / Lopata, Richard G P

    IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control

    2023  Volume 70, Issue 3, Page(s) 182–196

    Abstract: In the last decade, many advances have been made in high frame rate 3-D ultrasound imaging, including more flexible acquisition systems, transmit (TX) sequences, and transducer arrays. Compounding multiangle transmits of diverging waves has shown to be ... ...

    Abstract In the last decade, many advances have been made in high frame rate 3-D ultrasound imaging, including more flexible acquisition systems, transmit (TX) sequences, and transducer arrays. Compounding multiangle transmits of diverging waves has shown to be fast and effective for 2-D matrix arrays, where heterogeneity between transmits is key in optimizing the image quality. However, the anisotropy in contrast and resolution remains a drawback that cannot be overcome with a single transducer. In this study, a bistatic imaging aperture is demonstrated that consists of two synchronized matrix ( 32×32 ) arrays, allowing for fast interleaved transmits with a simultaneous receive (RX). First, for a single array, the aperture efficiency for high volume rate imaging was evaluated between sparse random arrays and fully multiplexed arrays. Second, the performance of the bistatic acquisition scheme was analyzed for various positions on a wire phantom and was showcased in a dynamic setup mimicking the human abdomen and aorta. Sparse array volume images were equal in resolution and lower in contrast compared to fully multiplexed arrays but can efficiently minimize decorrelation during motion for multiaperture imaging. The dual-array imaging aperture improved the spatial resolution in the direction of the second transducer, reducing the average volumetric speckle size with 72% and the axial-lateral eccentricity with 8%. In the aorta phantom, the angular coverage increased by a factor of 3 in the axial-lateral plane, raising the wall-lumen contrast with 16% compared to single-array images, despite accumulation of thermal noise in the lumen.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-04-07
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 1525-8955
    ISSN (online) 1525-8955
    DOI 10.1109/TUFFC.2022.3233158
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  6. Article: In vivo

    van Hal, Vera H J / de Hoop, Hein / van Sambeek, Marc R H M / Schwab, Hans-Martin / Lopata, Richard G P

    Frontiers in physiology

    2024  Volume 15, Page(s) 1320456

    Abstract: Introduction: ...

    Abstract Introduction:
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-03-28
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2564217-0
    ISSN 1664-042X
    ISSN 1664-042X
    DOI 10.3389/fphys.2024.1320456
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  7. Article ; Online: High frame rate multi-perspective cardiac ultrasound imaging using phased array probes.

    Liu, Peilu / de Hoop, Hein / Schwab, Hans-Martin / Lopata, Richard G P

    Ultrasonics

    2022  Volume 123, Page(s) 106701

    Abstract: Ultrasound (US) imaging is used to assess cardiac disease by assessing the geometry and function of the heart utilizing its high spatial and temporal resolution. However, because of physical constraints, drawbacks of US include limited field-of-view, ... ...

    Abstract Ultrasound (US) imaging is used to assess cardiac disease by assessing the geometry and function of the heart utilizing its high spatial and temporal resolution. However, because of physical constraints, drawbacks of US include limited field-of-view, refraction, resolution and contrast anisotropy. These issues cannot be resolved when using a single probe. Here, an interleaved multi-perspective 2-D US imaging system was introduced, aiming at improved imaging of the left ventricle (LV) of the heart by acquiring US data from two separate phased array probes simultaneously at a high frame rate. In an ex-vivo experiment of a beating porcine heart, parasternal long-axis and apical views of the left ventricle were acquired using two phased array probes. Interleaved multi-probe US data were acquired at a frame rate of 170 frames per second (FPS) using diverging wave imaging under 11 angles. Image registration and fusion algorithms were developed to align and fuse the US images from two different probes. First- and second-order speckle statistics were computed to characterize the resulting probability distribution function and point spread function of the multi-probe image data. First-order speckle analysis showed less overlap of the histograms (reduction of 34.4%) and higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR, increase of 27.3%) between endocardium and myocardium in the fused images. Autocorrelation results showed an improved and more isotropic resolution for the multi-perspective images (single-perspective: 0.59 mm × 0.21 mm, multi-perspective: 0.35 mm × 0.18 mm). Moreover, mean gradient (MG) (increase of 74.4%) and entropy (increase of 23.1%) results indicated that image details of the myocardial tissue can be better observed after fusion. To conclude, interleaved multi-perspective high frame rate US imaging was developed and demonstrated in an ex-vivo experimental setup, revealing enlarged field-of-view, and improved image contrast and resolution of cardiac images.
    MeSH term(s) Algorithms ; Animals ; Echocardiography ; Heart/diagnostic imaging ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Swine ; Ultrasonography
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-02-05
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 200839-7
    ISSN 1874-9968 ; 0041-624X
    ISSN (online) 1874-9968
    ISSN 0041-624X
    DOI 10.1016/j.ultras.2022.106701
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  8. Article ; Online: Multiperspective Photoacoustic Imaging Using Spatially Diverse CMUTs.

    Gholampour, Amir / Muller, Jan-Willem / Cano, Camilo / van Sambeek, Marc R H M / Lopata, Richard / Schwab, Hans-Martin / Wu, Min

    IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control

    2023  Volume 70, Issue 1, Page(s) 16–24

    Abstract: Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a promising technique to assess different constituents in tissue. In PAI, the propagating waves are low-amplitude, isotropic, and broadband. A common approach in PAI is the use of a single linear or curved piezoelectric ... ...

    Abstract Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a promising technique to assess different constituents in tissue. In PAI, the propagating waves are low-amplitude, isotropic, and broadband. A common approach in PAI is the use of a single linear or curved piezoelectric transducer array to perform both PA and ultrasound imaging. These systems provide freedom, agility, and versatility for performing imaging, but have limited field of view (FOV) and directivity that degrade the final image quality. Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) have a great potential to be used for PAI since they provide larger bandwidth and better cost efficiency. In this study, to improve the FOV, resolution, and contrast, we propose a multiperspective PAI (MP-PAI) approach using multiple CMUTs on a flexible array with shared channels. The designed array was used to perform MP-PAI in an in vitro experiment using a plaque mimicking phantom where the images were compounded both incoherently and coherently. The MP-PAI approach showed a significant improvement in overall image quality. Using only three CMUTs led to about 20% increase in generalized-contrast-to-noise ratio (gCNR), 2-dB improvement in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and double the structural coverage in comparison to a single CMUT setup. In numerical studies, the MP-PAI was thoroughly evaluated for both the coherent and incoherent compounding methods. The assessments showed that the image quality further improved for increased number of transducers and angular coverage. For 15 transducers, the improvement for resolution and contrast could be up to three times the amount in a single-perspective image. Nonetheless, the most prominent improvement of MP-PAI was its ability to resolve the structural information of the phantoms.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-01-11
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 1525-8955
    ISSN (online) 1525-8955
    DOI 10.1109/TUFFC.2022.3220999
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  9. Article ; Online: Local and global distensibility assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms

    Jansen, Larissa C / Schwab, Hans-Martin / van de Vosse, Frans N / van Sambeek, Marc R H M / Lopata, Richard G P

    Frontiers in medical technology

    2023  Volume 4, Page(s) 1052213

    Abstract: Rupture risk estimation of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients is currently based on the maximum diameter of the AAA. Mechanical properties that characterize the mechanical state of the vessel may serve as a better rupture risk predictor. Non- ... ...

    Abstract Rupture risk estimation of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients is currently based on the maximum diameter of the AAA. Mechanical properties that characterize the mechanical state of the vessel may serve as a better rupture risk predictor. Non-electrocardiogram-gated (non-ECG-gated) freehand 2D ultrasound imaging is a fast approach from which a reconstructed volumetric image of the aorta can be obtained. From this 3D image, the geometry, volume, and maximum diameter can be obtained. The distortion caused by the pulsatility of the vessel during the acquisition is usually neglected, while it could provide additional quantitative parameters of the vessel wall. In this study, a framework was established to semi-automatically segment probe tracked images of healthy aortas (
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-01-06
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article
    ISSN 2673-3129
    ISSN (online) 2673-3129
    DOI 10.3389/fmedt.2022.1052213
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

  10. Article ; Online: An aberration correction approach for single and dual aperture ultrasound imaging of the abdomen.

    van Hal, Vera H J / Muller, Jan-Willem / van Sambeek, Marc R H M / Lopata, Richard G P / Schwab, Hans-Martin

    Ultrasonics

    2023  Volume 131, Page(s) 106936

    Abstract: Abdominal ultrasound image quality is hampered by phase aberration, that is mainly caused by the large speed-of-sound (SoS) differences between fat and muscle tissue in the abdominal wall. The mismatch between the assumed and actual SoS distribution ... ...

    Abstract Abdominal ultrasound image quality is hampered by phase aberration, that is mainly caused by the large speed-of-sound (SoS) differences between fat and muscle tissue in the abdominal wall. The mismatch between the assumed and actual SoS distribution introduces general blurring of the ultrasound images, and acoustic refraction can lead to geometric distortion of the imaged features. Large aperture imaging or dual-transducer imaging can improve abdominal imaging at deep locations by providing increased contrast and resolution. However, aberration effects for large aperture imaging can be even more severe, which limits its full potential. In this study, a model-based aberration correction method for arbitrary acquisition schemes is introduced for delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming and its performance was analyzed for both single- and dual-transducer ultrasound imaging. The method employs aberration corrected wavefront arrival times, using manually assigned local SoS values. Two wavefront models were compared. The first model is based on a straight ray approximation, and the second model on the Eikonal equation, which is solved by a multi-stencils fast marching method. Their accuracy for abdominal imaging was evaluated in acoustic simulations and phantom experiments involving tissue-mimicking and porcine material with large SoS contrast (∼100 m/s). The lateral resolution was improved by up to 90% in simulations and up to 65% in experiments compared to standard DAS, in which the use of Eikonal beamforming generally outperformed straight ray beamforming. Moreover, geometric distortions were mitigated in multi-aperture imaging, leading to a reduction in position error of around 80%. A study on the sensitivity of the aberration correction to shape and SoS of aberrating layers was performed, showing that even with imperfect segmentations or SoS values, aberration correction still outperforms standard DAS.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Swine ; Algorithms ; Ultrasonography/methods ; Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Sound
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-02-07
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 200839-7
    ISSN 1874-9968 ; 0041-624X
    ISSN (online) 1874-9968
    ISSN 0041-624X
    DOI 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.106936
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

    More links

    Kategorien

To top