Investigation of microbubble detection methods for super-resolution imaging of microvasculature
File(s)clean_version_final.pdf (5.7 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Ultrasound super-resolution techniques use the response of microbubble contrast agents (MBs) to visualize the microvasculature. Techniques that localize isolated bubble signals first require detection algorithms to separate the MB and tissue responses. This work explores the three main MB detection techniques for super-resolution of microvasculature. Pulse inversion (PI), differential imaging (DI) and singular value decomposition (SVD) filtering were compared in terms of the localization accuracy, precision and contrast to tissue ratio (CTR). MB responses were simulated based on the properties of Sonovue™ and using the Marmottant model. Non-linear propagation through tissue was modelled using the k-Wave software package. For the parameters studied, the results show that PI is most appropriate for low frequency applications, but also most dependent on transducer bandwidth. SVD is preferable for high frequency acquisition where localization precision on the order of a few microns is possible. PI is largely independent of flow direction and speed compared to SVD and DI, so is appropriate for visualizing the slowest flows and tortuous vasculature. SVD is unsuitable for stationary MBs and can introduce a localization error on the order of hundreds of microns over the speed range 0- 2 mm/s and flow directions from lateral (parallel to probe) to axial (perpendicular to probe). DI is only suitable for flow rates > 0.5 mm/s or as flow becomes more axial. Overall, this study develops a MB and tissue non-linear simulation platform to improve understanding of how different MB detection techniques can impact the super-resolution process and explores some of the factors influencing the suitability of each.
Date Issued
2019-04-01
Date Acceptance
2019-01-09
Citation
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 2019, 66 (4), pp.676-691
ISSN
0885-3010
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
676
End Page
691
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control
Volume
66
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2019 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30676955
Grant Number
EP/N015487/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Acoustics
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Engineering
Detection methods
microbubbles (MBs)
super-localization
super-resolution imaging
CONTRAST-ENHANCED ULTRASOUND
SIZE DISTRIBUTION
PROPAGATION
FREQUENCY
DOPPLER
AGENTS
QUANTIFICATION
ANGIOGENESIS
RESOLUTION
02 Physical Sciences
09 Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2019-01-24