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Yang J, Cherin E, Yin J, Dayton PA, Foster FS, Demore CEM. Superharmonic and Microultrasound Imaging With Plane Wave Beamforming Techniques. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2023; 70:1442-1456. [PMID: 37713228 PMCID: PMC10712286 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2023.3316120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Superharmonic contrast imaging (SpHI) suppresses tissue clutter and allows high-contrast visualization of the vasculature. An array-based dual-frequency (DF) probe has been developed for SpHI, integrating a 21-MHz, 256-element microultrasound imaging array with a 2-MHz, 32-element array to take advantage of the broadband nonlinear responses from microbubble (MB) contrast agents. In this work, ultrafast imaging with plane waves was implemented for SpHI to increase the acquisition frame rate. Ultrafast imaging was also implemented for microultrasound B-mode imaging (HFPW B-mode) to enable high-resolution visualization of the tissue structure. Coherent compounding was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo in both imaging modes. Acquisition frame rates of 4.5 kHz and 187 Hz in HFPW B-mode imaging were achieved for imaging up to 21 mm with one and 25 angles, respectively, and 3.5 kHz and 396 Hz in the SpHI mode with one and nine coherently compounded angles, respectively. SpHI images showed suppression of tissue clutter prior to and after the introduction of MBs in vitro and in vivo. The nine-angle coherently compounded 2-D SpHI images of contrast-filled flow channel showed a contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR) of 26.0 dB, a 2.5-dB improvement relative to images reconstructed from 0° steering. Consistent with in vitro imaging, the nine-angle compounded 2-D SpHI of a Lewis lung cancer tumor showed a 2.6-dB improvement in contrast enhancement, relative to 0° steering, and additionally revealed a region of nonviable tissue. The 3-D display of the volumetric SpHI data acquired from a xenograft mouse tumor using both 0° steering and nine-angle compounding allowed the visualization of the tumor vasculature. A small vessel visible in the compounded SpHI image, measuring around [Formula: see text], is not visualized in the 0° steering SpHI image, demonstrating the superiority of the latter in detecting fine structures within the tumor.
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Newsome IG, Dayton PA. Acoustic Angiography: Superharmonic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging for Noninvasive Visualization of Microvasculature. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2393:641-655. [PMID: 34837204 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1803-5_34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic angiography is a contrast-enhanced ultrasound technique that relies on superharmonic imaging to form high-resolution, three-dimensional maps of the microvasculature. In order to obtain signal separation between tissue and contrast, acoustic angiography has been performed with dual-frequency transducers with nonoverlapping bandwidths. This enables a high contrast-to-tissue ratio, and the choice of a high frequency receiving element provides high resolution. In this chapter, we describe the technology behind acoustic angiography as well as the step-by-step implementation of this contrast enhanced microvascular imaging technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel G Newsome
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Paul A Dayton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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Özdemir İ, Johnson K, Mohr-Allen S, Peak KE, Varner V, Hoyt K. Three-dimensional visualization and improved quantification with super-resolution ultrasound imaging - validation framework for analysis of microvascular morphology using a chicken embryo model. Phys Med Biol 2021; 66:085008. [PMID: 33765676 PMCID: PMC8463964 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abf203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to improve the morphological analysis of microvascular networks depicted in three-dimensional (3D) super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) images. This was supported by qualitative and quantitative validation by comparison to matched brightfield microscopy and traditional B-mode ultrasound (US) images. Contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) images were collected using a preclinical US scanner (Vevo 3100, FUJIFILM VisualSonics Inc.) equipped with an MX250 linear array transducer. CEUS imaging was performed after administration of a microbubble (MB) contrast agent into the vitelline network of a developing chicken embryo. Volume data was collected by mechanically scanning the US transducer throughout a tissue volume-of-interest in 90μm step increments. CEUS images were collected at each increment and stored as in-phase/quadrature data (2000 frames at 152 frames per sec). SR-US images were created for each cross-sectional plane using established data processing methods. All SR-US images were then used to reconstruct a final 3D volume for vessel diameter (VD) quantification and for surface rendering. VD quantification from the 3D SR-US data exhibited an average error of 6.1% ± 6.0% when compared with matched brightfield microscopy images, whereas measurements from B-mode US images had an average error of 77.1% ± 68.9%. Volume and surface renderings in 3D space enabled qualitative validation and improved visualization of small vessels below the axial resolution of the US system. Overall, 3D SR-US image reconstructions depicted the microvascular network of the developing chicken embryos. Improved visualization of isolated vessels and quantification of microvascular morphology from SR-US images achieved a considerably greater accuracy compared to B-mode US measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- İpek Özdemir
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Kenneth Johnson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Shelby Mohr-Allen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Kara E Peak
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Victor Varner
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
| | - Kenneth Hoyt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
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Panfilova A, van Sloun RJG, Wijkstra H, Sapozhnikov OA, Mischi M. A review on B/A measurement methods with a clinical perspective. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 149:2200. [PMID: 33940890 DOI: 10.1121/10.0003627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The nonlinear parameter of ultrasound B/A has shown to be a useful diagnostic parameter, reflecting medium content, structure, and temperature. Despite its recognized values, B/A is not yet used as a diagnostic tool in the clinic due to the limitations of current measurement and imaging techniques. This review presents an extensive and comprehensive overview of the techniques developed for B/A measurement of liquid and liquid-like media (e.g., tissue), identifying the methods that are most promising from a clinical perspective. This work summarizes the progress made in the field and the typical challenges on the way to B/A estimation. Limitations and problems with the current techniques are identified, suggesting directions that may lead to further improvement. Since the basic theory of the physics behind the measurement strategies is presented, it is also suited for a reader who is new to nonlinear ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Panfilova
- Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Groene Loper 35612 AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud J G van Sloun
- Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Groene Loper 35612 AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hessel Wijkstra
- Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Groene Loper 35612 AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Oleg A Sapozhnikov
- Department of Acoustics, Physics Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Massimo Mischi
- Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Groene Loper 35612 AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Monitors Cutaneous Wound Healing under Angiogenesis-Promoting Treatment in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Mice. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11052447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
During wound healing, the rapid re-establishment of a functional microcirculation in the wounded tissue is of utmost importance. We applied optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography to evaluate vascular remodeling in an excisional wound model in the pinnae of C57BL/6 and db/db mice receiving different proangiogenic topical treatments. Analysis of the high-resolution OCT angiograms, including the four quantitative parameters vessel density, vessel length, number of bifurcations, and vessel tortuosity, revealed changes of the microvasculature and allowed identification of the overlapping wound healing phases hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Angiograms acquired in the inflammatory phase in the first days showed a dilation of vessels and recruitment of pre-existing capillaries. In the proliferative phase, angiogenesis with the sprouting of new capillaries into the wound tissue led to an increase of the OCT angiography parameters vessel density, normalized vessel length, number of bifurcations, and vessel tortuosity by 28–47%, 39–52%, 33–48%, and 3–8% versus baseline, respectively. After the peak observed on study days four to seven, the parameters slowly decreased but remained still elevated 18 days after wounding, indicating a continuing remodeling phase. Our study suggests that OCT angiography has the potential to serve as a valuable preclinical research tool in studies investigating impaired vascular remodeling during wound healing and potential new treatment strategies.
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Castelló CM, Miguel MP, Silveira-Lacerda EDP, Bakuzis AF, Borges NC. B-Mode and Doppler Ultrasonography in a Murine Model of Ehrlich Solid Carcinoma With Different Growth Patterns. Front Oncol 2020; 10:560413. [PMID: 33251133 PMCID: PMC7673667 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.560413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlich solid carcinoma (ESC) is one of the tumor models used in cancer research. Although it is widely used, it has no ultrasonographic descriptions. In this study, serial B-mode and Doppler ultrasonographic examinations were performed for 23 days for ESCs inoculated into 18 Swiss albino mice. The growth patterns were analyzed, and on the basis of their growth curve, the tumors were classified into two groups: fast growth (FG) and slow growth (SG). Ultrasonographic characteristics of the tumor’s capsule, margins, echogenicity, echotexture, vascular index (VI), distribution of vascular flow, and Doppler indices such as the resistive index, pulsatility index, and peak systolic velocity (SV) were analyzed and compared between the two groups. A high VI and earlier blood flow were noted in the FG group (p<0.05). Additionally, SV was higher in the FG group than in the SG group (13.28 ± 0.38 cm/s vs. 8.43 ± 0.26 cm/s). In contrast, a change in echogenicity and flow distribution patterns were observed, especially in FG tumors. Therefore, ESC presented with few ultrasonographic differences between FG and SG tumors, especially vascularization during the initial stages of tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Martí Castelló
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Marina Pacheco Miguel
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.,Setor de Patologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | | | | | - Naida Cristina Borges
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
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Newsome IG, Dayton PA. Visualization of Microvascular Angiogenesis Using Dual-Frequency Contrast-Enhanced Acoustic Angiography: A Review. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:2625-2635. [PMID: 32703659 PMCID: PMC7608693 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancerous tumor growth is associated with the development of tortuous, chaotic microvasculature, and this aberrant microvascular morphology can act as a biomarker of malignant disease. Acoustic angiography is a contrast-enhanced ultrasound technique that relies on superharmonic imaging to form high-resolution 3-D maps of the microvasculature. To date, acoustic angiography has been performed with dual-element transducers that can achieve high contrast-to-tissue ratio and resolution in pre-clinical small animal models. In this review, we first describe the development of acoustic angiography, including the principle, transducer design, and optimization of superharmonic imaging techniques. We then detail several preclinical applications of this microvascular imaging method, as well as the current and future development of acoustic angiography as a pre-clinical and clinical diagnostic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel G Newsome
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paul A Dayton
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
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Turco S, Frinking P, Wildeboer R, Arditi M, Wijkstra H, Lindner JR, Mischi M. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Quantification: From Kinetic Modeling to Machine Learning. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:518-543. [PMID: 31924424 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) have opened up immense diagnostic possibilities by combined use of indicator dilution principles and dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) imaging. UCAs are microbubbles encapsulated in a biocompatible shell. With a rheology comparable to that of red blood cells, UCAs provide an intravascular indicator for functional imaging of the (micro)vasculature by quantitative DCE-US. Several models of the UCA intravascular kinetics have been proposed to provide functional quantitative maps, aiding diagnosis of different pathological conditions. This article is a comprehensive review of the available methods for quantitative DCE-US imaging based on temporal, spatial and spatiotemporal analysis of the UCA kinetics. The recent introduction of novel UCAs that are targeted to specific vascular receptors has advanced DCE-US to a molecular imaging modality. In parallel, new kinetic models of increased complexity have been developed. The extraction of multiple quantitative maps, reflecting complementary variables of the underlying physiological processes, requires an integrative approach to their interpretation. A probabilistic framework based on emerging machine-learning methods represents nowadays the ultimate approach, improving the diagnostic accuracy of DCE-US imaging by optimal combination of the extracted complementary information. The current value and future perspective of all these advances are critically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Turco
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Rogier Wildeboer
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Arditi
- École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hessel Wijkstra
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan R Lindner
- Knight Cardiovascular Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Massimo Mischi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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de Maar JS, Sofias AM, Porta Siegel T, Vreeken RJ, Moonen C, Bos C, Deckers R. Spatial heterogeneity of nanomedicine investigated by multiscale imaging of the drug, the nanoparticle and the tumour environment. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:1884-1909. [PMID: 32042343 PMCID: PMC6993242 DOI: 10.7150/thno.38625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic and phenotypic tumour heterogeneity is an important cause of therapy resistance. Moreover, non-uniform spatial drug distribution in cancer treatment may cause pseudo-resistance, meaning that a treatment is ineffective because the drug does not reach its target at sufficient concentrations. Together with tumour heterogeneity, non-uniform drug distribution causes “therapy heterogeneity”: a spatially heterogeneous treatment effect. Spatial heterogeneity in drug distribution occurs on all scales ranging from interpatient differences to intratumour differences on tissue or cellular scale. Nanomedicine aims to improve the balance between efficacy and safety of drugs by targeting drug-loaded nanoparticles specifically to tumours. Spatial heterogeneity in nanoparticle and payload distribution could be an important factor that limits their efficacy in patients. Therefore, imaging spatial nanoparticle distribution and imaging the tumour environment giving rise to this distribution could help understand (lack of) clinical success of nanomedicine. Imaging the nanoparticle, drug and tumour environment can lead to improvements of new nanotherapies, increase understanding of underlying mechanisms of heterogeneous distribution, facilitate patient selection for nanotherapies and help assess the effect of treatments that aim to reduce heterogeneity in nanoparticle distribution. In this review, we discuss three groups of imaging modalities applied in nanomedicine research: non-invasive clinical imaging methods (nuclear imaging, MRI, CT, ultrasound), optical imaging and mass spectrometry imaging. Because each imaging modality provides information at a different scale and has its own strengths and weaknesses, choosing wisely and combining modalities will lead to a wealth of information that will help bring nanomedicine forward.
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Butler M, Perperidis A, Zahra JLM, Silva N, Averkiou M, Duncan WC, McNeilly A, Sboros V. Differentiation of Vascular Characteristics Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2019; 45:2444-2455. [PMID: 31208880 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound contrast imaging has been used to assess tumour growth and regression by assessing the flow through the macro- and micro-vasculature. Our aim was to differentiate the blood kinetics of vessels such as veins, arteries and microvasculature within the limits of the spatial resolution of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. The highly vascularised ovine ovary was used as a biological model. Perfusion of the ovary with SonoVue was recorded with a Philips iU22 scanner in contrast imaging mode. One ewe was treated with prostaglandin to induce vascular regression. Time-intensity curves (TIC) for different regions of interest were obtained, a lognormal model was fitted and flow parameters calculated. Parametric maps of the whole imaging plane were generated for 2 × 2 pixel regions of interest. Further analysis of TICs from selected locations helped specify parameters associated with differentiation into four categories of vessels (arteries, veins, medium-sized vessels and micro-vessels). Time-dependent parameters were associated with large veins, whereas intensity-dependent parameters were associated with large arteries. Further development may enable automation of the technique as an efficient way of monitoring vessel distributions in a clinical setting using currently available scanners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mairead Butler
- Heriot-Watt University, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Physics and Bio Engineering, Riccarton, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Antonios Perperidis
- Heriot-Watt University, Institute of Signals, Sensors and Systems, Riccarton, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Nadia Silva
- Centre for Marine Sciences, University of Algarve Faro, Portugal
| | - Michalakis Averkiou
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - W Colin Duncan
- Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alan McNeilly
- Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Vassilis Sboros
- Heriot-Watt University, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Physics and Bio Engineering, Riccarton, Edinburgh, UK
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