Broad Elevation Projection Super-Resolution Ultrasound (BEP-SRUS) imaging with a 1D unfocused linear array
File(s)BEPSR_PMC.pdf (1.52 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS) through localizing spatially isolated microbubbles (MBs) has been demonstrated to overcome the wave diffraction limit and reveal the microvascular structure and flow information at the microscopic scale. However, 3-D SRUS imaging remains a challenge due to the fabrication and computational complexity of 2-D matrix array probes. Inspired by X-ray radiography which can present information within a volume in a single projection image with much simpler hardware than X-ray computerized tomography (CT), this study investigates the feasibility of broad elevation projection super-resolution (BEP-SR) ultrasound using a 1-D unfocused linear array. Both simulation and in vitro experiments were conducted on 3-D microvessel phantoms. In vivo demonstration was done on the Rabbit kidney. Data from a 1-D linear array with and without an elevational focus were synthesized by summing up row signals acquired from a 2-D matrix array with and without delays. A full 3-D reconstruction was also generated as the reference, using the same data of the 2-D matrix array but without summing row signals. Results show that using an unfocused 1-D array probe, BEP-SR can capture significantly more information within a volume in both vascular structure and flow velocity than the conventional 1-D elevational-focused probe. Compared with the 2-D projection image of the full 3-D SRUS results using the 2-D array probe with the same aperture size, the 2-D projection SRUS image of BEP-SR has similar volume coverage, using 32 folds fewer independent elements. This study demonstrates BEP-SR’s ability of high-resolution imaging of microvascular structures and flow velocity within a 3-D volume at significantly reduced costs. The proposed BEP method could significantly benefit the clinical translation of the SRUS imaging technique by making it more affordable and repeatable.
Date Issued
2024-02-01
Date Acceptance
2023-12-12
Citation
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 2024, 71 (2), pp.255-265
ISSN
0885-3010
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
255
End Page
265
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control
Volume
71
Issue
2
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-12-18