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van Hal VHJ, de Hoop H, van Sambeek MRHM, Schwab HM, Lopata RGP. In vivo bistatic dual-aperture ultrasound imaging and elastography of the abdominal aorta. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1320456. [PMID: 38606009 PMCID: PMC11007781 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1320456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In this paper we introduce in vivo multi-aperture ultrasound imaging and elastography of the abdominal aorta. Monitoring of the geometry and growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is paramount for risk stratification and intervention planning. However, such an assessment is limited by the lateral lumen-wall contrast and resolution of conventional ultrasound. Here, an in vivo dual-aperture bistatic imaging approach is shown to improve abdominal ultrasound and strain imaging quality significantly. By scanning the aorta from different directions, a larger part of the vessel circumference can be visualized. Methods: In this first-in-man volunteer study, the performance of multi-aperture ultrasound imaging and elastography of the abdominal aortic wall was assessed in 20 healthy volunteers. Dual-probe acquisition was performed in which two curved array transducers were aligned in the same imaging plane. The transducers alternately transmit and both probes receive simultaneously on each transmit event, which allows for the reconstruction of four ultrasound signals. Automatic probe localization was achieved by optimizing the coherence of the trans-probe data, using a gradient descent algorithm. Speckle-tracking was performed on the four individual bistatic signals, after which the respective axial displacements were compounded and strains were calculated. Results: Using bistatic multi-aperture ultrasound imaging, the image quality of the ultrasound images, i.e., the angular coverage of the wall, was improved which enables accurate estimation of local motion dynamics and strain in the abdominal aortic wall. The motion tracking error was reduced from 1.3 mm ± 0.63 mm to 0.16 mm ± 0.076 mm, which increased the circumferential elastographic signal-to-noise ratio (SNRe) by 12.3 dB ± 8.3 dB on average, revealing more accurate and homogeneous strain estimates compared to single-perspective ultrasound. Conclusion: Multi-aperture ultrasound imaging and elastography is feasible in vivo and can provide the clinician with vital information about the anatomical and mechanical state of AAAs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera H. J. van Hal
- Photoacoustics and Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Hein de Hoop
- Photoacoustics and Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Marc R. H. M. van Sambeek
- Photoacoustics and Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Hans-Martin Schwab
- Photoacoustics and Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Richard G. P. Lopata
- Photoacoustics and Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
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Liu P, de Hoop H, Schwab HM, Lopata RGP. High frame rate multi-perspective cardiac ultrasound imaging using phased array probes. ULTRASONICS 2022; 123:106701. [PMID: 35189524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2022.106701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peilu Liu
- Photoacoustics & Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
| | - Hein de Hoop
- Photoacoustics & Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Hans-Martin Schwab
- Photoacoustics & Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Richard G P Lopata
- Photoacoustics & Ultrasound Laboratory Eindhoven (PULS/e), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
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Danudibroto A, Bersvendsen J, Gérard O, Mirea O, D'hooge J, Samset E. Spatiotemporal registration of multiple three-dimensional echocardiographic recordings for enhanced field of view imaging. J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2016; 3:037001. [PMID: 27446972 DOI: 10.1117/1.jmi.3.3.037001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of three-dimensional (3-D) echocardiography is limited by signal dropouts and narrow field of view. Data compounding is proposed as a solution to overcome these limitations by combining multiple 3-D recordings to form a wide field of view. The first step of the solution requires registration between the recordings both in the spatial and temporal dimension for dynamic organs such as the heart. Accurate registration between the individual echo recordings is crucial for the quality of compounded volumes. A temporal registration method based on a piecewise one-dimensional cubic B-spline in combination with multiscale iterative Farnebäck optic flow method for spatial registration was described. The temporal registration method was validated on in vivo data sets with annotated timing of mitral valve opening. The spatial registration method was validated using in vivo data and compared to registration with Procrustes analysis using manual contouring as a benchmark. The spatial accuracy was assessed in terms of mean of absolute distance and Hausdorff distance between the left ventricular contours. The results showed that the temporal registration accuracy is in the range of half the time resolution of the echo recordings and the achieved spatial accuracy of the proposed method is comparable to manual registration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriyana Danudibroto
- GE Vingmed Ultrasound, Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway; KU Leuven, Department of Cardiovasular Sciences, Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics Lab, UZ Herestraat 49, Box 7003, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jørn Bersvendsen
- GE Vingmed Ultrasound, Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway; University of Oslo, Department of Informatics, Gaustadalléen 23 B, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Olivier Gérard
- GE Vingmed Ultrasound , Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
| | - Oana Mirea
- KU Leuven , Department of Cardiovasular Sciences, Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics Lab, UZ Herestraat 49, Box 7003, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan D'hooge
- KU Leuven , Department of Cardiovasular Sciences, Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics Lab, UZ Herestraat 49, Box 7003, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Eigil Samset
- KU Leuven , Department of Cardiovasular Sciences, Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics Lab, UZ Herestraat 49, Box 7003, Leuven 3000, Belgium
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Perperidis A. Postprocessing Approaches for the Improvement of Cardiac Ultrasound B-Mode Images: A Review. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2016; 63:470-485. [PMID: 26886981 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2016.2526670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The improvement in the quality and diagnostic value of ultrasound images has been an ongoing research theme for the last three decades. Cardiac ultrasound suffers from a wide range of artifacts such as acoustic noise, shadowing, and enhancement. Most artifacts are a consequence of the interaction of the transmitted ultrasound signals with anatomic structures of the examined body. Structures such as bone, lungs (air), and fat have a direct limiting effect on the quality of the acquired images. Furthermore, physical phenomena such as speckle introduce a granular pattern on the imaged tissue structures that can sometimes obscure fine anatomic detail. Over the years, numerous studies have attempted to address a range of artifacts in medical ultrasound, including cardiac ultrasound B-mode images. This review provides extensive coverage of such attempts identifying their limitations as well as future research opportunities.
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Bersvendsen J, Toews M, Danudibroto A, Wells WM, Urheim S, Estépar RSJ, Samset E. Robust Spatio-Temporal Registration of 4D Cardiac Ultrasound Sequences. PROCEEDINGS OF SPIE--THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR OPTICAL ENGINEERING 2016; 9790:97900F. [PMID: 27516706 PMCID: PMC4976768 DOI: 10.1117/12.2217005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Registration of multiple 3D ultrasound sectors in order to provide an extended field of view is important for the appreciation of larger anatomical structures at high spatial and temporal resolution. In this paper, we present a method for fully automatic spatio-temporal registration between two partially overlapping 3D ultrasound sequences. The temporal alignment is solved by aligning the normalized cross correlation-over-time curves of the sequences. For the spatial alignment, corresponding 3D Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) features are extracted from all frames of both sequences independently of the temporal alignment. A rigid transform is then calculated by least squares minimization in combination with random sample consensus. The method is applied to 16 echocardiographic sequences of the left and right ventricles and evaluated against manually annotated temporal events and spatial anatomical landmarks. The mean distances between manually identified landmarks in the left and right ventricles after automatic registration were (mean ± SD) 4.3 ± 1.2 mm compared to a reference error of 2.8 ± 0.6 mm with manual registration. For the temporal alignment, the absolute errors in valvular event times were 14.4 ± 11.6 ms for Aortic Valve (AV) opening, 18.6 ± 16.0 ms for AV closing, and 34.6 ± 26.4 ms for mitral valve opening, compared to a mean inter-frame time of 29 ms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jørn Bersvendsen
- GE Vingmed Ultrasound, Horten, Norway ; University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway ; Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - William M Wells
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - Eigil Samset
- GE Vingmed Ultrasound, Horten, Norway ; University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway ; Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo, Norway
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