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Mi J, Liu C, Chen H, Qian Y, Zhu J, Zhang Y, Liang Y, Wang L, Ta D. Light on Alzheimer's disease: from basic insights to preclinical studies. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1363458. [PMID: 38566826 PMCID: PMC10986738 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1363458] [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: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), referring to a gradual deterioration in cognitive function, including memory loss and impaired thinking skills, has emerged as a substantial worldwide challenge with profound social and economic implications. As the prevalence of AD continues to rise and the population ages, there is an imperative demand for innovative imaging techniques to help improve our understanding of these complex conditions. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging forms a hybrid imaging modality by integrating the high-contrast of optical imaging and deep-penetration of ultrasound imaging. PA imaging enables the visualization and characterization of tissue structures and multifunctional information at high resolution and, has demonstrated promising preliminary results in the study and diagnosis of AD. This review endeavors to offer a thorough overview of the current applications and potential of PA imaging on AD diagnosis and treatment. Firstly, the structural, functional, molecular parameter changes associated with AD-related brain imaging captured by PA imaging will be summarized, shaping the diagnostic standpoint of this review. Then, the therapeutic methods aimed at AD is discussed further. Lastly, the potential solutions and clinical applications to expand the extent of PA imaging into deeper AD scenarios is proposed. While certain aspects might not be fully covered, this mini-review provides valuable insights into AD diagnosis and treatment through the utilization of innovative tissue photothermal effects. We hope that it will spark further exploration in this field, fostering improved and earlier theranostics for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Mi
- Yiwu Research Institute, Fudan University, Yiwu, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Yiwu Research Institute, Fudan University, Yiwu, China
- Digital Medical Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention, Shanghai, China
| | - Honglei Chen
- Yiwu Research Institute, Fudan University, Yiwu, China
| | - Yan Qian
- Digital Medical Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyi Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yachao Zhang
- Medical Ultrasound Department, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Yizhi Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber Sensing and Communications, Institute of Photonics Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lidai Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dean Ta
- Yiwu Research Institute, Fudan University, Yiwu, China
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Franx BAA, Lebrun F, Chin Joe Kie L, Deffieux T, Vivien D, Bonnard T, Dijkhuizen RM. Dynamics of cerebral blood volume during and after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats - Comparison between ultrafast ultrasound and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI measurements. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2024; 44:333-344. [PMID: 38126356 PMCID: PMC10870967 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x231220698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Tomographic perfusion imaging techniques are integral to translational stroke research paradigms that advance our understanding of the disease. Functional ultrasound (fUS) is an emerging technique that informs on cerebral blood volume (CBV) through ultrasensitive Doppler and flow velocity (CBFv) through ultrafast localization microscopy. It is not known how experimental results compare with a classical CBV-probing technique such as dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion MRI (DSC-MRI). To that end, we assessed hemodynamics based on uUS (n = 6) or DSC-MRI (n = 7) before, during and up to three hours after 90-minute filament-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Recanalization was followed by a brief hyperperfusion response, after which CBV and CBFv temporarily normalized but progressively declined after one hour in the lesion territory. DSC-MRI data corroborated the incomplete restoration of CBV after recanalization, which may have been caused by the free-breathing anesthetic regimen. During occlusion, MCAO-induced hypoperfusion was more discrepant between either technique, likely attributable to artefactual signal mechanisms related to slow flow, and processing algorithms employed for either technique. In vivo uUS- and DSC-MRI-derived measures of CBV enable serial whole-brain assessment of post-stroke hemodynamics, but readouts from both techniques need to be interpreted cautiously in situations of very low blood flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart AA Franx
- Translational Neuroimaging Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Florent Lebrun
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders (PhIND), Institute Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie (BB@C), Caen, France
- ETAP-Lab, STROK@LLIANCE, 13 Rue du bois de la champelle, 54500, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France
| | - Lois Chin Joe Kie
- Translational Neuroimaging Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Deffieux
- Institute of Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL Université Recherche, Paris, France
| | - Denis Vivien
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders (PhIND), Institute Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie (BB@C), Caen, France
- CHU Caen, Department of Clinical Research, CHU Caen, Côte de Nacre, France
| | - Thomas Bonnard
- Normandie University, UNICAEN, INSERM UMR-S U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders (PhIND), Institute Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie (BB@C), Caen, France
| | - Rick M Dijkhuizen
- Translational Neuroimaging Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Cruz ASD, Drehmer MM, Baetas-da-Cruz W, Machado JC. Ultrasound biomicroscopy in the quantification of brain perfusion parameters of a rat stroke model: Analysis of contrast agent bolus kinetic dynamics. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 401:110005. [PMID: 37931754 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.110005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ischemic stroke represents a significant global health concern, necessitating thorough investigations and the utilization of stroke animal models to explore novel treatment modalities and diagnostic imaging techniques. NEW METHOD Ultrasound biomicroscopy (BMU), operating at a center frequency of 21 MHz, along with ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs), was used to quantify microcirculation cerebral blood flow in a rat model of ischemic stroke. The microcirculation parameters were derived from time intensity curve (TIC) plots obtained based on UCA-bolus kinetics. RESULTS Semiquantitative perfusion-related parameters were assessed. The TIC curves showed differences in amplitude when compared intra-animal between the left and right sides, and three situations were observed: normal perfusion, hypoperfusion, and nonperfusion. ROC analysis of delays between the left and right time intensity peak (TIP) for regions of interest (ROIs) in the control and stroke-hypoperfusion groups revealed an optimal cutpoint of 0.39 s to indicate when hypoperfusion is occurring in rats, with a sensitivity of 93.33 % and a specificity of 80 %. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Ultrasound perfusion imaging through the temporal bone window has been clinically applied to stroke patients using a UCA bolus for TIC analysis. TIC parameters were correlated with MRI- and CT-based measurements. CONCLUSIONS This investigation quantified cerebral blood flow in a rat model of ischemic stroke by measuring microcirculation parameters. The study demonstrated the efficacy of this approach as a valuable tool for conducting preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Silva da Cruz
- Biomedical Engineering Program, COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Margarida Drehmer
- Post-Graduation Program in Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Wagner Baetas-da-Cruz
- Post-Graduation Program in Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - João Carlos Machado
- Biomedical Engineering Program, COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Dhamija P, Mehata AK, Setia A, Priya V, Malik AK, Bonlawar J, Verma N, Badgujar P, Randhave N, Muthu MS. Nanotheranostics: Molecular Diagnostics and Nanotherapeutic Evaluation by Photoacoustic/Ultrasound Imaging in Small Animals. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:6010-6034. [PMID: 37931040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Nanotheranostics is a rapidly developing field that integrates nanotechnology, diagnostics, and therapy to provide novel methods for imaging and treating wide categories of diseases. Targeted nanotheranostics offers a platform for the precise delivery of theranostic agents, and their therapeutic outcomes are monitored in real-time. Presently, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescence imaging, ultrasound imaging, and photoacoustic imaging (PAI), etc. are noninvasive imaging techniques that are preclinically available for the imaging and tracking of therapeutic outcomes in small animals. Additionally, preclinical imaging is essential for drug development, phenotyping, and understanding disease stage progression and its associated mechanisms. Small animal ultrasound imaging is a rapidly developing imaging technique for theranostics applications due to its merits of being nonionizing, real-time, portable, and able to penetrate deep tissues. Recently, different types of ultrasound contrast agents have been explored, such as microbubbles, echogenic exosomes, gas-vesicles, and nanoparticles-based contrast agents. Moreover, an optical image obtained through photoacoustic imaging is a noninvasive imaging technique that creates ultrasonic waves when pulsed laser light is used to expose an object and creates a picture of the tissue's distribution of light energy absorption on the object. Contrast agents for photoacoustic imaging may be endogenous (hemoglobin, melanin, and DNA/RNA) or exogenous (dyes and nanomaterials-based contrast agents). The integration of nanotheranostics with photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging allows simultaneous imaging and treatment of diseases in small animals, which provides essential information about the drug response and the disease progression. In this review, we have covered various endogenous and exogenous contrast agents for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. Additionally, we have discussed various drug delivery systems integrated with contrast agents for theranostic application. Further, we have briefly discussed the current challenges associated with ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyush Dhamija
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Abhishesh Kumar Mehata
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Aseem Setia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Vishnu Priya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Ankit Kumar Malik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Jyoti Bonlawar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Nidhi Verma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Paresh Badgujar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Nandini Randhave
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Madaswamy S Muthu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, India
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Soloukey S, Collée E, Verhoef L, Satoer DD, Dirven CMF, Bos EM, Schouten JW, Generowicz BS, Mastik F, De Zeeuw CI, Koekkoek SKE, Vincent AJPE, Smits M, Kruizinga P. Human brain mapping using co-registered fUS, fMRI and ESM during awake brain surgeries: A proof-of-concept study. Neuroimage 2023; 283:120435. [PMID: 37914090 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate, depth-resolved functional imaging is key in both understanding and treatment of the human brain. A new sonography-based imaging technique named functional Ultrasound (fUS) uniquely combines high sensitivity with submillimeter-subsecond spatiotemporal resolution available in large fields-of-view. In this proof-of-concept study we show that: (A) fUS reveals the same eloquent regions as found by fMRI while concomitantly visualizing in-vivo microvascular morphology underlying these functional hemodynamics and (B) fUS-based functional maps are confirmed by Electrocortical Stimulation Mapping (ESM), the current gold-standard in awake neurosurgical practice. This unique cross-modality experiment was performed using motor, visual and language-related functional tasks in patients undergoing awake brain tumor resection. The current work serves as an important milestone towards further maturity of fUS as well as a novel avenue to increase our understanding of hemodynamics-based functional brain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Soloukey
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80 3015 CN, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands; Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - E Collée
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - L Verhoef
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80 3015 CN, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - D D Satoer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - C M F Dirven
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - E M Bos
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - J W Schouten
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - B S Generowicz
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80 3015 CN, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - F Mastik
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80 3015 CN, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - C I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80 3015 CN, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam 1105 BA, the Netherlands
| | - S K E Koekkoek
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80 3015 CN, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - A J P E Vincent
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - M Smits
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands
| | - P Kruizinga
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Wytemaweg 80 3015 CN, Rotterdam 3015 CN, the Netherlands.
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Zhou C, Zhu X, Li J, Luo Y, Zhou Y. Dynamic assessment of brain perfusion in a middle cerebral artery occlusion rat model by contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging: a pilot study. Acta Radiol 2023; 64:3042-3051. [PMID: 37872652 DOI: 10.1177/02841851231205163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The middle cerebral artery occlusion model (MCAo) is a commonly used animal model for cerebral ischemia studies but lacks accessible imaging techniques for the assessment of hemodynamic changes of the model. PURPOSE The study aims to explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating brain perfusion in the early stages after MCAo surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS In total, 18 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to right MCAo using an intraluminal filament model, and CEUS was performed at the three following timepoints: before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 6 h after permanent MCAo (T2). Twelve rats successfully completed the study, and their brains were removed and stained using 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). CEUS video images were visualized offline, and the time-intensity curves (TICs) were analyzed. Different cerebrovascular patterns and manifestations of the contrast enhancement in rat ischemic hemispheres were observed. Semi-quantitative parameters of TICs in ischemic areas (ROIi) and the surrounding normal- or hypo-perfused areas (ROIn) were calculated and compared between T0, T1, and T2, and also between ROIi and ROIn. RESULTS A significant correlation was found between the lesion volume (%) determined by TTC and CEUS parameters (r = -0.691, P = 0.013 for peak intensity; r = -0.742, P = 0.006 for area under the curve) at T2. After the same occlusion, there were differences in contrast perfusion in each group. CONCLUSION This study suggests that CEUS could be an effective imaging tool for studying cerebral ischemia and perfusion in small animals as long as the transcranial acoustic window allows it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyun Zhou
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xiaoxia Zhu
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yan Luo
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yuqing Zhou
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
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Park CI, Choe S, Lee W, Choi W, Kim M, Seung HM, Kim YY. Ultrasonic barrier-through imaging by Fabry-Perot resonance-tailoring panel. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7818. [PMID: 38016968 PMCID: PMC10684589 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43675-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Imaging technologies that provide detailed information on intricate shapes and states of an object play critical roles in nanoscale dynamics, bio-organ and cell studies, medical diagnostics, and underwater detection. However, ultrasonic imaging of an object hidden by a nearly impenetrable metal barrier remains intractable. Here, we present the experimental results of ultrasonic imaging of an object in water behind a metal barrier of a high impedance mismatch. In comparison to direct ultrasonic images, our method yields sufficient object information on the shapes and locations with minimal errors. While our imaging principle is based on the Fabry-Perot (FP) resonance, our strategy for reducing attenuation in our experiments focuses on customising the resonance at any desired frequency. To tailor the resonance frequency, we placed an elaborately engineered panel of a specific material and thickness, called the FP resonance-tailoring panel (RTP), and installed the panel in front of a barrier at a controlled distance. Since our RTP-based imaging technique is readily compatible with conventional ultrasound devices, it can realise underwater barrier-through imaging and communication and enhance skull-through ultrasonic brain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung Il Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungah Choe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Woorim Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjae Choi
- Intelligent Wave Engineering Team, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), 267 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
- Department of Precision Measurement, University of Science and Technology (UST), 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Miso Kim
- School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- SKKU Institute of Energy Science and Technology (SIEST), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Min Seung
- Intelligent Wave Engineering Team, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), 267 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Precision Measurement, University of Science and Technology (UST), 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yoon Young Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Le Moign G, Masson P, Basset O, Liebgott H, Quaegebeur N. Optimized Virtual Sources Distributions for 3-D Ultrafast Diverging Wave Compounding Imaging: A Simulation Study. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2023; 70:1319-1328. [PMID: 37643094 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2023.3307336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Ultrafast ultrasound imaging allows observing rapid phenomena; combined with 3-D imaging it has the potential to provide a more accurate analysis of organs which leads, in the end, to better diagnosis. Coherent compounding using diverging waves is commonly used to reconstruct high-quality images on large volumes while keeping the frame rate high enough to allow dynamic analysis. In practice, the virtual sources (VSs) that drive the diverging waves are often distributed in a deterministic way: following a regular grid, concentric rings, and spirals. Even though those deterministic distributions can offer various tradeoffs in terms of imaging performance, other distributions can be considered to improve imaging performance. It is herein suggested to look at alternative VSs distributions for optimizing the lateral resolution and the secondary lobes level (SLL) on several point spread functions (PSFs) by means of a multiobjective genetic algorithm. The optimization framework has led to seven pseudo-irregular distributions of VSs distributions that have not yet been found in the literature. An analysis of the imaging performance with a simulated phantom shows that these new distributions offer different tradeoffs between lateral resolution and contrast, respectively, measured on point-like reflectors and anechoic cysts. As an example, one of these optimized distributions improves the lateral resolution by 16% and gives equivalent contrast values on cysts and PSF isotropy properties, when compared to a concentric-rings-based distribution.
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9
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Zheng H, Niu L, Qiu W, Liang D, Long X, Li G, Liu Z, Meng L. The Emergence of Functional Ultrasound for Noninvasive Brain-Computer Interface. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2023; 6:0200. [PMID: 37588619 PMCID: PMC10427153 DOI: 10.34133/research.0200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
A noninvasive brain-computer interface is a central task in the comprehensive analysis and understanding of the brain and is an important challenge in international brain-science research. Current implanted brain-computer interfaces are cranial and invasive, which considerably limits their applications. The development of new noninvasive reading and writing technologies will advance substantial innovations and breakthroughs in the field of brain-computer interfaces. Here, we review the theory and development of the ultrasound brain functional imaging and its applications. Furthermore, we introduce latest advancements in ultrasound brain modulation and its applications in rodents, primates, and human; its mechanism and closed-loop ultrasound neuromodulation based on electroencephalograph are also presented. Finally, high-frequency acoustic noninvasive brain-computer interface is prospected based on ultrasound super-resolution imaging and acoustic tweezers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hairong Zheng
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Lili Niu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Weibao Qiu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Dong Liang
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiaojing Long
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Guanglin Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Integration Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhiyuan Liu
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Integration Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Long Meng
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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10
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Zeng W, Yue X, Dai Z. Ultrasound contrast agents from microbubbles to biogenic gas vesicles. MEDICAL REVIEW (2021) 2023; 3:31-48. [PMID: 37724107 PMCID: PMC10471104 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2022-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Microbubbles have been the earliest and most widely used ultrasound contrast agents by virtue of their unique features: such as non-toxicity, intravenous injectability, ability to cross the pulmonary capillary bed, and significant enhancement of echo signals for the duration of the examination, resulting in essential preclinical and clinical applications. The use of microbubbles functionalized with targeting ligands to bind to specific targets in the bloodstream has further enabled ultrasound molecular imaging. Nevertheless, it is very challenging to utilize targeted microbubbles for molecular imaging of extravascular targets due to their size. A series of acoustic nanomaterials have been developed for breaking free from this constraint. Especially, biogenic gas vesicles, gas-filled protein nanostructures from microorganisms, were engineered as the first biomolecular ultrasound contrast agents, opening the door for more direct visualization of cellular and molecular function by ultrasound imaging. The ordered protein shell structure and unique gas filling mechanism of biogenic gas vesicles endow them with excellent stability and attractive acoustic responses. What's more, their genetic encodability enables them to act as acoustic reporter genes. This article reviews the upgrading progresses of ultrasound contrast agents from microbubbles to biogenic gas vesicles, and the opportunities and challenges for the commercial and clinical translation of the nascent field of biomolecular ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Zeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuli Yue
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Zhifei Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Morisset C, Dizeux A, Larrat B, Selingue E, Boutin H, Picaud S, Sahel JA, Ialy-Radio N, Pezet S, Tanter M, Deffieux T. Retinal functional ultrasound imaging (rfUS) for assessing neurovascular alterations: a pilot study on a rat model of dementia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19515. [PMID: 36376408 PMCID: PMC9663720 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23366-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fifty million people worldwide are affected by dementia, a heterogeneous neurodegenerative condition encompassing diseases such as Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, and Parkinson's. For them, cognitive decline is often the first marker of the pathology after irreversible brain damage has already occurred. Researchers now believe that structural and functional alterations of the brain vasculature could be early precursors of the diseases and are looking at how functional imaging could provide an early diagnosis years before irreversible clinical symptoms. In this preclinical pilot study, we proposed using functional ultrasound (fUS) on the retina to assess neurovascular alterations non-invasively, bypassing the skull limitation. We demonstrated for the first time the use of functional ultrasound in the retina and applied it to characterize the retinal hemodynamic response function in vivo in rats following a visual stimulus. We then demonstrated that retinal fUS could measure robust neurovascular coupling alterations between wild-type rats and TgF344-AD rat models of Alzheimer's disease. We observed an average relative increase in blood volume of 21% in the WT versus 37% for the TG group (p = 0.019). As a portable, non-invasive and inexpensive technique, rfUS is a promising functional screening tool in clinics for dementia years before symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clementine Morisset
- grid.440907.e0000 0004 1784 3645Institute Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI PSL Paris, CNRS UMR 8631, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Dizeux
- grid.440907.e0000 0004 1784 3645Institute Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI PSL Paris, CNRS UMR 8631, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Larrat
- grid.457334.20000 0001 0667 2738NeuroSpin, Institut Des Sciences du Vivant Frédéric Joliot, Commissariat À L’Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Erwan Selingue
- grid.457334.20000 0001 0667 2738NeuroSpin, Institut Des Sciences du Vivant Frédéric Joliot, Commissariat À L’Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | - Herve Boutin
- grid.5379.80000000121662407Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL UK ,grid.5379.80000000121662407Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, 27 Palatine Road, Manchester, M20 3LJ UK ,grid.462482.e0000 0004 0417 0074Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance and University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Serge Picaud
- grid.418241.a0000 0000 9373 1902Institut de La Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, 17 Rue Moreau, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Jose-Alain Sahel
- grid.418241.a0000 0000 9373 1902Institut de La Vision, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, 17 Rue Moreau, 75012 Paris, France ,grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA ,grid.417888.a0000 0001 2177 525XDepartment of Ophthalmology and Vitreo-Retinal Diseases, Fondation Ophtalmologique Rothschild, 75019 Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Ialy-Radio
- grid.440907.e0000 0004 1784 3645Institute Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI PSL Paris, CNRS UMR 8631, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Pezet
- grid.440907.e0000 0004 1784 3645Institute Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI PSL Paris, CNRS UMR 8631, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Mickael Tanter
- grid.440907.e0000 0004 1784 3645Institute Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI PSL Paris, CNRS UMR 8631, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Deffieux
- grid.440907.e0000 0004 1784 3645Institute Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI PSL Paris, CNRS UMR 8631, PSL Research University, Paris, France
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12
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Soloukey S, Verhoef L, Jan van Doormaal P, Generowicz BS, Dirven CMF, De Zeeuw CI, Koekkoek SKE, Kruizinga P, Vincent AJPE, Schouten JW. High-resolution micro-Doppler imaging during neurosurgical resection of an arteriovenous malformation: illustrative case. JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY. CASE LESSONS 2022; 4:CASE22177. [PMID: 36345205 PMCID: PMC9644416 DOI: 10.3171/case22177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Given the high-risk nature of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) resections, accurate pre- and intraoperative imaging of the vascular morphology is a crucial component that may contribute to successful surgical results. Surprisingly, current gold standard imaging techniques for surgical guidance of AVM resections are mostly preoperative, lacking the necessary flexibility to cater to intraoperative changes. Micro-Doppler imaging is a unique high-resolution technique relying on high frame rate ultrasound and subsequent Doppler processing of microvascular hemodynamics. In this paper the authors report the first application of intraoperative, coregistered magnetic resonance/computed tomograpy, micro-Doppler imaging during the neurosurgical resection of an AVM in the parietal lobe. OBSERVATIONS The authors applied intraoperative two-dimensional and three-dimensional (3D) micro-Doppler imaging during resection and were able to identify key anatomical features including draining veins, supplying arteries and microvasculature in the nidus itself. Compared to the corresponding preoperative 3D-digital subtraction angiography (DSA) image, the micro-Doppler images could delineate vascular structures and visualize hemodynamics with higher, submillimeter scale detail, even at significant depths (>5 cm). Additionally, micro-Doppler imaging revealed unique microvascular morphology of surrounding healthy vasculature. LESSONS The authors conclude that micro-Doppler imaging in its current form has clear potential as an intraoperative counterpart to preoperative contrast-dependent DSA, and the microvascular details it provides could build new ground to further study cerebrovascular pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Chris I. De Zeeuw
- Departments of Neuroscience
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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13
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Singh A, Kusunose J, Phipps MA, Wang F, Chen LM, Caskey CF. Guiding and monitoring focused ultrasound mediated blood-brain barrier opening in rats using power Doppler imaging and passive acoustic mapping. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14758. [PMID: 36042266 PMCID: PMC9427847 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18328-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents harmful toxins from entering brain but can also inhibit therapeutic molecules designed to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with microbubbles can enhance permeability of BBB and is often performed under MRI guidance. We present an all-ultrasound system capable of targeting desired regions to open BBB with millimeter-scale accuracy in two dimensions based on Doppler images. We registered imaging coordinates to FUS coordinates with target registration error of 0.6 ± 0.3 mm and used the system to target microbubbles flowing in cellulose tube in two in vitro scenarios (agarose-embedded and through a rat skull), while receiving echoes on imaging transducer. We created passive acoustic maps from received echoes and found error between intended location in imaging plane and location of pixel with maximum intensity after passive acoustic maps reconstruction to be within 2 mm in 5/6 cases. We validated ultrasound-guided procedure in three in vivo rat brains by delivering MRI contrast agent to cortical regions of rat brains after BBB opening. Landmark-based registration of vascular maps created with MRI and Doppler ultrasound revealed BBB opening inside the intended focus with targeting accuracy within 1.5 mm. Combined use of power Doppler imaging with passive acoustic mapping demonstrates an ultrasound-based solution to guide focused ultrasound with high precision in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jiro Kusunose
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - M Anthony Phipps
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Li Min Chen
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Charles F Caskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, TN, USA.
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14
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Di Ianni T, Airan RD. Deep-fUS: A Deep Learning Platform for Functional Ultrasound Imaging of the Brain Using Sparse Data. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2022; 41:1813-1825. [PMID: 35108201 PMCID: PMC9247015 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2022.3148728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Functional ultrasound (fUS) is a rapidly emerging modality that enables whole-brain imaging of neural activity in awake and mobile rodents. To achieve sufficient blood flow sensitivity in the brain microvasculature, fUS relies on long ultrasound data acquisitions at high frame rates, posing high demands on the sampling and processing hardware. Here we develop an image reconstruction method based on deep learning that significantly reduces the amount of data necessary while retaining imaging performance. We trained convolutional neural networks to learn the power Doppler reconstruction function from sparse sequences of ultrasound data with compression factors of up to 95%. High-quality images from in vivo acquisitions in rats were used for training and performance evaluation. We demonstrate that time series of power Doppler images can be reconstructed with sufficient accuracy to detect the small changes in cerebral blood volume (~10%) characteristic of task-evoked cortical activation, even though the network was not formally trained to reconstruct such image series. The proposed platform may facilitate the development of this neuroimaging modality in any setting where dedicated hardware is not available or in clinical scanners.
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15
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Intensity distribution segmentation in ultrafast Doppler combined with scanning laser confocal microscopy for assessing vascular changes associated with ageing in murine hippocampi. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6784. [PMID: 35473942 PMCID: PMC9042937 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10457-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus plays an important role in learning and memory, requiring high-neuronal oxygenation. Understanding the relationship between blood flow and vascular structure—and how it changes with ageing—is physiologically and anatomically relevant. Ultrafast Doppler (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\mu$$\end{document}μDoppler) and scanning laser confocal microscopy (SLCM) are powerful imaging modalities that can measure in vivo cerebral blood volume (CBV) and post mortem vascular structure, respectively. Here, we apply both imaging modalities to a cross-sectional and longitudinal study of hippocampi vasculature in wild-type mice brains. We introduce a segmentation of CBV distribution obtained from \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\mu$$\end{document}μDoppler and show that this mice-independent and mesoscopic measurement is correlated with vessel volume fraction (VVF) distribution obtained from SLCM—e.g., high CBV relates to specific vessel locations with large VVF. Moreover, we find significant changes in CBV distribution and vasculature due to ageing (5 vs. 21 month-old mice), highlighting the sensitivity of our approach. Overall, we are able to associate CBV with vascular structure—and track its longitudinal changes—at the artery-vein, venules, arteriole, and capillary levels. We believe that this combined approach can be a powerful tool for studying other acute (e.g., brain injuries), progressive (e.g., neurodegeneration) or induced pathological changes.
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16
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Robin J, Ozbek A, Reiss M, Dean-Ben XL, Razansky D. Dual-Mode Volumetric Optoacoustic and Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging With Spherical Matrix Arrays. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2022; 41:846-856. [PMID: 34735340 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2021.3125398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Spherical matrix arrays represent an advantageous tomographic detection geometry for non-invasive deep tissue mapping of vascular networks and oxygenation with volumetric optoacoustic tomography (VOT). Hybridization of VOT with ultrasound (US) imaging remains difficult with this configuration due to the relatively large inter-element pitch of spherical arrays. We suggest a new approach for combining VOT and US contrast-enhanced 3D imaging employing injection of clinically-approved microbubbles. Power Doppler (PD) and US localization imaging were enabled with a sparse US acquisition sequence and model-based inversion based on infimal convolution of total variation (ICTV) regularization. In vitro experiments in tissue-mimicking phantoms and in living mouse brain demonstrate the powerful capabilities of the new dual-mode imaging approach attaining 80 μm spatial resolution and a more than 10 dB signal to noise improvement with respect to a classical delay and sum beamformer. Microbubble localization and tracking allowed for flow velocity mapping up to 40 mm/s.
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17
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Golemati S, Cokkinos DD. Recent advances in vascular ultrasound imaging technology and their clinical implications. ULTRASONICS 2022; 119:106599. [PMID: 34624584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2021.106599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In this paper recent advances in vascular ultrasound imaging technology are discussed, including three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and strain- (SE) and shear-wave-elastography (SWE). 3DUS imaging allows visualisation of the actual 3D anatomy and more recently of flow, and assessment of geometrical, morphological and mechanical features in the carotid artery and the aorta. CEUS involves the use of microbubble contrast agents to estimate sensitive blood flow and neovascularisation (formation of new microvessels). Recent developments include the implementation of computerised tools for automated analysis and quantification of CEUS images, and the possibility to measure blood flow velocity in the aorta. SE, which yields anatomical maps of tissue strain, is increasingly being used to investigate the vulnerability of the carotid plaque, but is also promising for the coronary artery and the aorta. SWE relies on the generation of a shear wave by remote acoustic palpation and its acquisition by ultrafast imaging, and is useful for measuring arterial stiffness. Such advances in vascular ultrasound technology, with appropriate validation in clinical trials, could positively change current management of patients with vascular disease, and improve stratification of cardiovascular risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyretta Golemati
- Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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18
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Yongyue Z, Yang S, Li Z, Rongjin Z, Shumin W. Functional Brain Imaging Based on the Neurovascular Unit for Evaluating Neural Networks after Strok. ADVANCED ULTRASOUND IN DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY 2022. [DOI: 10.37015/audt.2022.210033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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19
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Functional ultrasound imaging: A useful tool for functional connectomics? Neuroimage 2021; 245:118722. [PMID: 34800662 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional ultrasound (fUS) is a hemodynamic-based functional neuroimaging technique, primarily used in animal models, that combines a high spatiotemporal resolution, a large field of view, and compatibility with behavior. These assets make fUS especially suited to interrogating brain activity at the systems level. In this review, we describe the technical capabilities offered by fUS and discuss how this technique can contribute to the field of functional connectomics. First, fUS can be used to study intrinsic functional connectivity, namely patterns of correlated activity between brain regions. In this area, fUS has made the most impact by following connectivity changes in disease models, across behavioral states, or dynamically. Second, fUS can also be used to map brain-wide pathways associated with an external event. For example, fUS has helped obtain finer descriptions of several sensory systems, and uncover new pathways implicated in specific behaviors. Additionally, combining fUS with direct circuit manipulations such as optogenetics is an attractive way to map the brain-wide connections of defined neuronal populations. Finally, technological improvements and the application of new analytical tools promise to boost fUS capabilities. As brain coverage and the range of behavioral contexts that can be addressed with fUS keep on increasing, we believe that fUS-guided connectomics will only expand in the future. In this regard, we consider the incorporation of fUS into multimodal studies combining diverse techniques and behavioral tasks to be the most promising research avenue.
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20
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Shin Low S, Nong Lim C, Yew M, Siong Chai W, Low LE, Manickam S, Ti Tey B, Show PL. Recent ultrasound advancements for the manipulation of nanobiomaterials and nanoformulations for drug delivery. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2021; 80:105805. [PMID: 34706321 PMCID: PMC8555278 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2021.105805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in ultrasound (US) have shown its great potential in biomedical applications as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The coupling of US-assisted drug delivery systems with nanobiomaterials possessing tailor-made functions has been shown to remove the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. The low-frequency US has significantly enhanced the targeted drug delivery effect and efficacy, reducing limitations posed by conventional treatments such as a limited therapeutic window. The acoustic cavitation effect induced by the US-mediated microbubbles (MBs) has been reported to replace drugs in certain acute diseases such as ischemic stroke. This review briefly discusses the US principles, with particular attention to the recent advancements in drug delivery applications. Furthermore, US-assisted drug delivery coupled with nanobiomaterials to treat different diseases (cancer, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, thrombosis, and COVID-19) are discussed in detail. Finally, this review covers the future perspectives and challenges on the applications of US-mediated nanobiomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze Shin Low
- Continental-NTU Corporate Lab, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637553, Singapore; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Chang Nong Lim
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, No. 1, Jalan Venna P5/2, Precinct 5, Putrajaya 62200, Malaysia
| | - Maxine Yew
- Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo 315100, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wai Siong Chai
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang Ee Low
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Advanced Engineering Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Sivakumar Manickam
- Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Jalan Tungku Link Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
| | - Beng Ti Tey
- Advanced Engineering Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Chemical Engineering Discipline, School of Engineering, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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21
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Nielsen MB, Søgaard SB, Bech Andersen S, Skjoldbye B, Hansen KL, Rafaelsen S, Nørgaard N, Carlsen JF. Highlights of the development in ultrasound during the last 70 years: A historical review. Acta Radiol 2021; 62:1499-1514. [PMID: 34791887 DOI: 10.1177/02841851211050859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This review looks at highlights of the development in ultrasound, ranging from interventional ultrasound and Doppler to the newest techniques like contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography, and gives reference to some of the valuable articles in Acta Radiologica. Ultrasound equipment is now available in any size and for any purpose, ranging from handheld devices to high-end devices, and the scientific societies include ultrasound professionals of all disciplines publishing guidelines and recommendations. Interventional ultrasound is expanding the field of use of ultrasound-guided interventions into nearly all specialties of medicine, from ultrasound guidance in minimally invasive robotic procedures to simple ultrasound-guided punctures performed by general practitioners. Each medical specialty is urged to define minimum requirements for equipment, education, training, and maintenance of skills, also for medical students. The clinical application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography is a topic often seen in current research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bachmann Nielsen
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stinne Byrholdt Søgaard
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofie Bech Andersen
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bjørn Skjoldbye
- Department of Radiology, Aleris-Hamlet Hospitals, Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Kristoffer Lindskov Hansen
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Rafaelsen
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Nis Nørgaard
- Department of Urology, Herlev Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonathan F. Carlsen
- Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Tournier N, Comtat C, Lebon V, Gennisson JL. Challenges and Perspectives of the Hybridization of PET with Functional MRI or Ultrasound for Neuroimaging. Neuroscience 2021; 474:80-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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23
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Markicevic M, Savvateev I, Grimm C, Zerbi V. Emerging imaging methods to study whole-brain function in rodent models. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:457. [PMID: 34482367 PMCID: PMC8418612 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01575-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, the idea that single populations of neurons support cognition and behavior has gradually given way to the realization that connectivity matters and that complex behavior results from interactions between remote yet anatomically connected areas that form specialized networks. In parallel, innovation in brain imaging techniques has led to the availability of a broad set of imaging tools to characterize the functional organization of complex networks. However, each of these tools poses significant technical challenges and faces limitations, which require careful consideration of their underlying anatomical, physiological, and physical specificity. In this review, we focus on emerging methods for measuring spontaneous or evoked activity in the brain. We discuss methods that can measure large-scale brain activity (directly or indirectly) with a relatively high temporal resolution, from milliseconds to seconds. We further focus on methods designed for studying the mammalian brain in preclinical models, specifically in mice and rats. This field has seen a great deal of innovation in recent years, facilitated by concomitant innovation in gene-editing techniques and the possibility of more invasive recordings. This review aims to give an overview of currently available preclinical imaging methods and an outlook on future developments. This information is suitable for educational purposes and for assisting scientists in choosing the appropriate method for their own research question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Markicevic
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, HEST, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Iurii Savvateev
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, HEST, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Decision Neuroscience Lab, HEST, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christina Grimm
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, HEST, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Valerio Zerbi
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, HEST, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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Jing B, Lindsey BD. Effect of Skull Porous Trabecular Structure on Transcranial Ultrasound Imaging in the Presence of Elastic Wave Mode Conversion at Varying Incidence Angle. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2021; 47:2734-2748. [PMID: 34140169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
With the advancement of aberration correction techniques, transcranial ultrasound imaging has exhibited great potential in applications such as imaging neurological function and guiding therapeutic ultrasound. However, the feasibility of transcranial imaging varies among individuals because of the differences in skull acoustic properties. To better understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying the variation in imaging performance, the effect of the structure of the porous trabecular bone on transcranial imaging performance (i.e., target localization errors and resolution) was investigated for the first time through the use of elastic wave simulations and experiments. Simulation studies using high-resolution computed tomography data from ex vivo skull samples revealed that imaging at large incidence angles reduced the target localization error for skulls having low porosity; however, as skull porosity increased, large angles of incidence resulted in degradation of resolution and increased target localization errors. Experimental results indicate that imaging at normal incidence introduced a localization error of 1.85 ± 0.10 mm, while imaging at a large incidence angle (40°) resulted in an increased localization error of 6.54 ± 1.33 mm and caused a single point target to no longer appear as a single, coherent target in the resulting image, which is consistent with simulation results. This first investigation of the effects of skull microstructure on transcranial ultrasound imaging indicates that imaging performance is highly dependent on the porosity of the skull, particularly at non-normal angles of incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Jing
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Brooks D Lindsey
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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Edelman BJ, Macé E. Functional ultrasound brain imaging: Bridging networks, neurons, and behavior. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2021.100286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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26
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Xian Q, Qiu Z, Kala S, Wong KF, Guo J, Sun L. Behavioral and Functional Assessment of Ultrasound Neuromodulation on Caenorhabditis Elegans. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2021; 68:2150-2154. [PMID: 33556006 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2021.3057873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound brain stimulation is a promising modality for probing brain function and treating brain diseases. However, its mechanism is as yet unclear, and in vivo effects are not well-understood. Here, we present a top-down strategy for assessing ultrasound bioeffects in vivo, using Caenorhabditis elegans. Behavioral and functional changes of single worms and of large populations upon ultrasound stimulation were studied. Worms were observed to significantly increase their average speed upon ultrasound stimulation, adapting to it upon continued treatment. Worms also generated more reversal turns when ultrasound was ON, and within a minute post-stimulation, they performed significantly more reversal and omega turns than prior to ultrasound. In addition, in vivo calcium imaging showed that the neural activity in the worms' heads and tails was increased significantly by ultrasound stimulation. In all, we conclude that ultrasound can directly activate the neurons of worms in vivo, in both of their major neuronal ganglia, and modify their behavior.
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27
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Claron J, Hingot V, Rivals I, Rahal L, Couture O, Deffieux T, Tanter M, Pezet S. Large-scale functional ultrasound imaging of the spinal cord reveals in-depth spatiotemporal responses of spinal nociceptive circuits in both normal and inflammatory states. Pain 2021; 162:1047-1059. [PMID: 32947542 PMCID: PMC7977620 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Despite a century of research on the physiology/pathophysiology of the spinal cord in chronic pain condition, the properties of the spinal cord were rarely studied at the large-scale level from a neurovascular point of view. This is mostly due to the limited spatial and/or temporal resolution of the available techniques. Functional ultrasound imaging (fUS) is an emerging neuroimaging approach that allows, through the measurement of cerebral blood volume, the study of brain functional connectivity or functional activations with excellent spatial (100 μm) and temporal (1 msec) resolutions and a high sensitivity. The aim of this study was to increase our understanding of the spinal cord physiology through the study of the properties of spinal hemodynamic response to the natural or electrical stimulation of afferent fibers. Using a combination of fUS and ultrasound localization microscopy, the first step of this study was the fine description of the vascular structures in the rat spinal cord. Then, using either natural or electrical stimulations of different categories of afferent fibers (Aβ, Aδ, and C fibers), we could define the characteristics of the typical hemodynamic response of the rat spinal cord experimentally. We showed that the responses are fiber-specific, located ipsilaterally in the dorsal horn, and that they follow the somatotopy of afferent fiber entries in the dorsal horn and that the C-fiber response is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent mechanism. Finally, fUS imaging of the mesoscopic hemodynamic response induced by natural tactile stimulations revealed a potentiated response in inflammatory condition, suggesting an enhanced response to allodynic stimulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Claron
- Laboratory of Brain Plasticity, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8249, Paris, France
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research, University, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Hingot
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research, University, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Rivals
- Equipe de Statistique Appliquée, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS UMRS 1158, Paris, France
| | - Line Rahal
- Laboratory of Brain Plasticity, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8249, Paris, France
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research, University, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Couture
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research, University, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Deffieux
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research, University, Paris, France
| | - Mickael Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research, University, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Pezet
- Laboratory of Brain Plasticity, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8249, Paris, France
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research, University, Paris, France
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28
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Norman SL, Maresca D, Christopoulos VN, Griggs WS, Demene C, Tanter M, Shapiro MG, Andersen RA. Single-trial decoding of movement intentions using functional ultrasound neuroimaging. Neuron 2021; 109:1554-1566.e4. [PMID: 33756104 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
New technologies are key to understanding the dynamic activity of neural circuits and systems in the brain. Here, we show that a minimally invasive approach based on ultrasound can be used to detect the neural correlates of movement planning, including directions and effectors. While non-human primates (NHPs) performed memory-guided movements, we used functional ultrasound (fUS) neuroimaging to record changes in cerebral blood volume with 100 μm resolution. We recorded from outside the dura above the posterior parietal cortex, a brain area important for spatial perception, multisensory integration, and movement planning. We then used fUS signals from the delay period before movement to decode the animals' intended direction and effector. Single-trial decoding is a prerequisite to brain-machine interfaces, a key application that could benefit from this technology. These results are a critical step in the development of neuro-recording and brain interface tools that are less invasive, high resolution, and scalable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumner L Norman
- Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - David Maresca
- Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Vassilios N Christopoulos
- Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; T&C Chen Brain-Machine Interface Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Whitney S Griggs
- Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Charlie Demene
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 75012 Paris, France; INSERM Technology Research Accelerator in Biomedical Ultrasound, Paris, France
| | - Mickael Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 75012 Paris, France; INSERM Technology Research Accelerator in Biomedical Ultrasound, Paris, France
| | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Richard A Andersen
- Biology & Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; T&C Chen Brain-Machine Interface Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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Demené C, Robin J, Dizeux A, Heiles B, Pernot M, Tanter M, Perren F. Transcranial ultrafast ultrasound localization microscopy of brain vasculature in patients. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 5:219-228. [PMID: 33723412 PMCID: PMC7610356 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00697-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Changes in cerebral blood flow are associated with stroke, aneurysms, vascular cognitive impairment, neurodegenerative diseases and other pathologies. Brain angiograms, typically performed via computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, are limited to millimetre-scale resolution and are insensitive to blood-flow dynamics. Here we show that ultrafast ultrasound localization microscopy of intravenously injected microbubbles enables transcranial imaging of deep vasculature in the adult human brain at microscopic resolution and the quantification of haemodynamic parameters. Adaptive speckle tracking to correct for micrometric brain-motion artefacts and ultrasonic-wave aberrations induced during transcranial propagation allowed us to map the vascular network of tangled arteries to functionally characterize blood-flow dynamics at a resolution of up to 25 μm and to detect blood vortices in a small deep-seated aneurysm in a patient. Ultrafast ultrasound localization microscopy may facilitate the understanding of brain haemodynamics and of how vascular abnormalities in the brain are related to neurological pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Demené
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Paris, France.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, HUG, LUNIC Laboratory Geneva Neurocenter, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Justine Robin
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Paris, France.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, HUG, LUNIC Laboratory Geneva Neurocenter, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Dizeux
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Baptiste Heiles
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Pernot
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Mickael Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Paris, France.
| | - Fabienne Perren
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, HUG, LUNIC Laboratory Geneva Neurocenter, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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30
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Deffieux T, Demené C, Tanter M. Functional Ultrasound Imaging: A New Imaging Modality for Neuroscience. Neuroscience 2021; 474:110-121. [PMID: 33727073 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ultrasound sensitivity to slow blood flow motion gained two orders of magnitude in the last decade thanks to the advent of ultrafast ultrasound imaging at thousands of frames per second. In neuroscience, this access to small cerebral vessels flow led to the introduction of ultrasound as a new and full-fledged neuroimaging modality. Much as functional MRI or functional optical imaging, functional Ultrasound (fUS) takes benefit of the neurovascular coupling. Its ease of use, portability, spatial and temporal resolution makes it an attractive tool for functional imaging of brain activity in preclinical imaging. A large and fast-growing number of studies in a wide variety of small to large animal models have demonstrated its potential for neuroscience research. Beyond preclinical imaging, first proof of concept applications in humans are promising and proved a clear clinical interest in particular in human neonates, per-operative surgery, or even for the development of non-invasive brain machine interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Deffieux
- Institute of Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL Université Recherche, Paris, France.
| | - Charlie Demené
- Institute of Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL Université Recherche, Paris, France
| | - Mickael Tanter
- Institute of Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS UMR 8063, PSL Université Recherche, Paris, France
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31
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Heiles B, Terwiel D, Maresca D. The Advent of Biomolecular Ultrasound Imaging. Neuroscience 2021; 474:122-133. [PMID: 33727074 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Ultrasound imaging is one of the most widely used modalities in clinical practice, revealing human prenatal development but also arterial function in the adult brain. Ultrasound waves travel deep within soft biological tissues and provide information about the motion and mechanical properties of internal organs. A drawback of ultrasound imaging is its limited ability to detect molecular targets due to a lack of cell-type specific acoustic contrast. To date, this limitation has been addressed by targeting synthetic ultrasound contrast agents to molecular targets. This molecular ultrasound imaging approach has proved to be successful but is restricted to the vascular space. Here, we introduce the nascent field of biomolecular ultrasound imaging, a molecular imaging approach that relies on genetically encoded acoustic biomolecules to interface ultrasound waves with cellular processes. We review ultrasound imaging applications bridging wave physics and chemical engineering with potential for deep brain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Heiles
- Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Dion Terwiel
- Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - David Maresca
- Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
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32
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Ultrasound. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00018-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Sridharan A, Lawrence KM, Martin-Saavedra JS, Davey MG, Flake AW, Didier RA. Quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the brain on twin fetal lambs maintained by the extrauterine environment for neonatal development (EXTEND): initial experience. Pediatr Radiol 2021; 51:103-111. [PMID: 32870357 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-020-04797-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the development of an artificial environment to support the extremely premature infant, advanced imaging techniques tested in this extrauterine system might be beneficial to evaluate the fetal brain. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the feasibility of (a) performing contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and (b) quantifying normal and decreased brain perfusion in fetal lambs maintained on the extrauterine environment for neonatal development (EXTEND) system. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twin premature fetal lambs (102 days of gestational age) were transferred to the EXTEND system. Twin B was subjected to sub-physiological flows (152 mL/kg/min) and oxygen delivery (15.9 mL/kg/min), while Twin A was maintained at physiological levels. We administered Lumason contrast agent into the oxygenator circuit and performed serial CEUS examinations. We quantified perfusion parameters and generated parametric maps. We also recorded hemodynamic parameters, serum blood analysis, and measurements across the oxygenator. Postmortem MRIs were performed. RESULTS No significant changes in hemodynamic variables were attributable to CEUS examinations. On gray-scale images, Twin B demonstrated ventriculomegaly and progressive parenchymal volume loss culminating in hydranencephaly. By CEUS, Twin B demonstrated decreased peak enhancement and decreased overall parenchymal perfusion when compared to Twin A by perfusion parameters and parametric maps. Changes in perfusion parameters were detected immediately following blood transfusion. Postmortem MRI confirmed ultrasonographic findings in Twin B. CONCLUSION In this preliminary experience, we show that CEUS of the brain is feasible in fetal lambs maintained on the EXTEND system and that changes in perfusion can be quantified, which is promising for the application of CEUS in this extrauterine system supporting the premature infant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anush Sridharan
- Department of Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kendall M Lawrence
- Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Juan S Martin-Saavedra
- Department of Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Marcus G Davey
- Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alan W Flake
- Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ryne A Didier
- Department of Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. .,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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34
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Rabut C, Yoo S, Hurt RC, Jin Z, Li H, Guo H, Ling B, Shapiro MG. Ultrasound Technologies for Imaging and Modulating Neural Activity. Neuron 2020; 108:93-110. [PMID: 33058769 PMCID: PMC7577369 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Visualizing and perturbing neural activity on a brain-wide scale in model animals and humans is a major goal of neuroscience technology development. Established electrical and optical techniques typically break down at this scale due to inherent physical limitations. In contrast, ultrasound readily permeates the brain, and in some cases the skull, and interacts with tissue with a fundamental resolution on the order of 100 μm and 1 ms. This basic ability has motivated major efforts to harness ultrasound as a modality for large-scale brain imaging and modulation. These efforts have resulted in already-useful neuroscience tools, including high-resolution hemodynamic functional imaging, focused ultrasound neuromodulation, and local drug delivery. Furthermore, recent breakthroughs promise to connect ultrasound to neurons at the genetic level for biomolecular imaging and sonogenetic control. In this article, we review the state of the art and ongoing developments in ultrasonic neurotechnology, building from fundamental principles to current utility, open questions, and future potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Rabut
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Sangjin Yoo
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Robert C Hurt
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Zhiyang Jin
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Hongyi Li
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Hongsun Guo
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Bill Ling
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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35
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Changes in spinal cord hemodynamics reflect modulation of spinal network with different parameters of epidural stimulation. Neuroimage 2020; 221:117183. [PMID: 32702485 PMCID: PMC7802109 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging has been implemented to explore the local hemodynamics response induced by electrical epidural stimulation and to study real-time in vivo functional changes of the spinal cord, taking advantage of the superior spatiotemporal resolution provided by fUS. By quantifying the hemodynamics and electromyographic response features, we tested the hypothesis that the temporal hemodynamics response of the spinal cord to electrical epidural stimulation could reflect modulation of the spinal circuitry and accordingly respond to the changes in parameters of electrical stimulation. The results of this study for the first time demonstrate that the hemodynamics response to electrical stimulation could reflect a neural-vascular coupling of the spinal cord. Response in the dorsal areas to epidural stimulation was significantly higher and faster compared to the response in ventral spinal cord. Positive relation between the hemodynamics and the EMG responses was observed at the lower frequencies of epidural stimulation (20 and 40 Hz), which according to our previous findings can facilitate spinal circuitry after spinal cord injury, compared to higher frequencies (200 and 500 Hz). These findings suggest that different mechanisms could be involved in spinal cord hemodynamics changes during different parameters of electrical stimulation and for the first time provide the evidence that neural-vascular coupling of the spinal cord circuitry could be related to specific organization of spinal cord vasculature and hemodynamics.
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36
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Rahal L, Thibaut M, Rivals I, Claron J, Lenkei Z, Sitt JD, Tanter M, Pezet S. Ultrafast ultrasound imaging pattern analysis reveals distinctive dynamic brain states and potent sub-network alterations in arthritic animals. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10485. [PMID: 32591574 PMCID: PMC7320008 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66967-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain pathologies, which are due to maladaptive changes in the peripheral and/or central nervous systems, are debilitating diseases that affect 20% of the European adult population. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this pathogenesis would facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Functional connectivity (FC) extracted from coherent low-frequency hemodynamic fluctuations among cerebral networks has recently brought light on a powerful approach to study large scale brain networks and their disruptions in neurological/psychiatric disorders. Analysis of FC is classically performed on averaged signals over time, but recently, the analysis of the dynamics of FC has also provided new promising information. Keeping in mind the limitations of animal models of persistent pain but also the powerful tool they represent to improve our understanding of the neurobiological basis of chronic pain pathogenicity, this study aimed at defining the alterations in functional connectivity, in a clinically relevant animal model of sustained inflammatory pain (Adjuvant-induced Arthritis) in rats by using functional ultrasound imaging, a neuroimaging technique with a unique spatiotemporal resolution (100 μm and 2 ms) and sensitivity. Our results show profound alterations of FC in arthritic animals, such as a subpart of the somatomotor (SM) network, occurring several weeks after the beginning of the disease. Also, we demonstrate for the first time that dynamic functional connectivity assessed by ultrasound can provide quantitative and robust information on the dynamic pattern that we define as brain states. While the main state consists of an overall synchrony of hemodynamic fluctuations in the SM network, arthritic animal spend statistically more time in two other states, where the fluctuations of the primary sensory cortex of the inflamed hind paws show asynchrony with the rest of the SM network. Finally, correlating FC changes with pain behavior in individual animals suggest links between FC alterations and either the cognitive or the emotional aspects of pain. Our study introduces fUS as a new translational tool for the enhanced understanding of the dynamic pain connectome and brain plasticity in a major preclinical model of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Rahal
- Laboratory of Brain Plasticity, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8249, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Miguel Thibaut
- Laboratory of Brain Plasticity, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8249, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Rivals
- Equipe de Statistique Appliquée, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, UMRS 1158, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Julien Claron
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Zsolt Lenkei
- Laboratory of Brain Plasticity, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8249, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France
- Center of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, INSERM U894, 102 rue de la Santé, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Jacobo D Sitt
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, INSERM U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne University, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR, S 1127, Paris, France
| | - Mickael Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Pezet
- Laboratory of Brain Plasticity, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 8249, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005, Paris, France.
- Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France.
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Abstract
Nowadays, several techniques exist to study and better understand how the brain works (fMRI, EEG, electrophysiology, etc.). Each has its own advantages and disadvantages (spatiotemporal resolution, maximal recording depth, signal-to-noise ratio, etc.). In this article, we show that the new functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging technique is appropriate to record and map brain activity in awake primates on a scale previously unreachable. It allows distinguishing patterns similar to ocular dominance bands in the visual cortex through all layers of the cortex, which was impossible before with common techniques. This paper demonstrates the utility of fUS imaging for studying brain activity in awake primates and its interest to all neuroscientists. Deep regions of the brain are not easily accessible to investigation at the mesoscale level in awake animals or humans. We have recently developed a functional ultrasound (fUS) technique that enables imaging hemodynamic responses to visual tasks. Using fUS imaging on two awake nonhuman primates performing a passive fixation task, we constructed retinotopic maps at depth in the visual cortex (V1, V2, and V3) in the calcarine and lunate sulci. The maps could be acquired in a single-hour session with relatively few presentations of the stimuli. The spatial resolution of the technology is illustrated by mapping patterns similar to ocular dominance (OD) columns within superficial and deep layers of the primary visual cortex. These acquisitions using fUS suggested that OD selectivity is mostly present in layer IV but with extensions into layers II/III and V. This imaging technology provides a new mesoscale approach to the mapping of brain activity at high spatiotemporal resolution in awake subjects within the whole depth of the cortex.
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38
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Jing B, Brown ME, Davis ME, Lindsey BD. Imaging the Activation of Low-Boiling-Point Phase-Change Contrast Agents in the Presence of Tissue Motion Using Ultrafast Inter-frame Activation Ultrasound Imaging. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:1474-1489. [PMID: 32143861 PMCID: PMC7199438 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanoscale phase-change contrast agents (PCCAs) have been found to have great potential in non-invasive extravascular imaging and therapeutic delivery. However, the contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR) of PCCA images is usually limited because of either physiological motion or incomplete cancelation of tissue signal. Therefore, to improve the CTR of PCCA images in the presence of physiological motion, a new imaging technique, ultrafast inter-frame activation ultrasound (UIAU) imaging, is proposed and validated. Results of studies with controlled motion in tissue-mimicking phantoms indicate UIAU could provide significantly higher CTRs (maximum: 17.3 ± 0.9 dB) relative to conventional pulse inversion imaging (maximum CTR: 3.4 ± 1.4 dB). UIAU has CTRs up to 16.1 ± 1.0 dB relative to 3.9 ± 2.3 dB for differential imaging in the presence of physiological motion at 20 mm/s. In vivo imaging of PCCAs in the rat liver also reveals the ability of UIAU to enhance PCCA image contrast in the presence of physiological motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Jing
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Milton E Brown
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael E Davis
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Children's Heart Research & Outcomes Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Brooks D Lindsey
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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Zhang N, Ashikuzzaman M, Rivaz H. Clutter suppression in ultrasound: performance evaluation and review of low-rank and sparse matrix decomposition methods. Biomed Eng Online 2020; 19:37. [PMID: 32466753 PMCID: PMC7254711 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-020-00778-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Vessel diseases are often accompanied by abnormalities related to vascular shape and size. Therefore, a clear visualization of vasculature is of high clinical significance. Ultrasound color flow imaging (CFI) is one of the prominent techniques for flow visualization. However, clutter signals originating from slow-moving tissue are one of the main obstacles to obtain a clear view of the vascular network. Enhancement of the vasculature by suppressing the clutters is a significant and irreplaceable step for many applications of ultrasound CFI. Currently, this task is often performed by singular value decomposition (SVD) of the data matrix. This approach exhibits two well-known limitations. First, the performance of SVD is sensitive to the proper manual selection of the ranks corresponding to clutter and blood subspaces. Second, SVD is prone to failure in the presence of large random noise in the dataset. A potential solution to these issues is using decomposition into low-rank and sparse matrices (DLSM) framework. SVD is one of the algorithms for solving the minimization problem under the DLSM framework. Many other algorithms under DLSM avoid full SVD and use approximated SVD or SVD-free ideas which may have better performance with higher robustness and less computing time. In practice, these models separate blood from clutter based on the assumption that steady clutter represents a low-rank structure and that the moving blood component is sparse. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of ultrasound clutter suppression techniques and exploit the feasibility of low-rank and sparse decomposition schemes in ultrasound clutter suppression. We conduct this review study by adapting 106 DLSM algorithms and validating them against simulation, phantom, and in vivo rat datasets. Two conventional quality metrics, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), are used for performance evaluation. In addition, computation times required by different algorithms for generating clutter suppressed images are reported. Our extensive analysis shows that the DLSM framework can be successfully applied to ultrasound clutter suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiyuan Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia, Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Montreal, Canada
| | - Md Ashikuzzaman
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia, Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Montreal, Canada
| | - Hassan Rivaz
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia, Rue Sainte-Catherine O, Montreal, Canada.
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40
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Premilovac D, Blackwood SJ, Ramsay CJ, Keske MA, Howells DW, Sutherland BA. Transcranial contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the rat brain reveals substantial hyperperfusion acutely post-stroke. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2020; 40:939-953. [PMID: 32063081 PMCID: PMC7181087 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x20905493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Direct and real-time assessment of cerebral hemodynamics is key to improving our understanding of cerebral blood flow regulation in health and disease states such as stroke. While a number of sophisticated imaging platforms enable assessment of cerebral perfusion, most are limited either spatially or temporally. Here, we applied transcranial contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) to measure cerebral perfusion in real-time through the intact rat skull before, during and after ischemic stroke, induced by intraluminal filament middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We demonstrate expected decreases in cortical and striatal blood volume, flow velocity and perfusion during MCAO. After filament retraction, blood volume and perfusion increased two-fold above baseline, indicative of acute hyperperfusion. Adjacent brain regions to the ischemic area and the contralateral hemisphere had increased blood volume during MCAO. We assessed our data using wavelet analysis to demonstrate striking vasomotion changes in the ischemic and contralateral cortices during MCAO and reperfusion. In conclusion, we demonstrate the application of CEU for real-time assessment of cerebral hemodynamics and show that the ischemic regions exhibit striking hyperemia post-MCAO. Whether this post-stoke hyperperfusion is sustained long-term and contributes to stroke severity is not known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dino Premilovac
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Sarah J Blackwood
- Åstrand Laboratory of Work Physiology, Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, GIH, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ciaran J Ramsay
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Michelle A Keske
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - David W Howells
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Brad A Sutherland
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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41
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Tang Y, Qian X, Lee DJ, Zhou Q, Yao J. From Light to Sound: Photoacoustic and Ultrasound Imaging in Fundamental Research of Alzheimer's Disease. OBM NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 4:10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2002056. [PMID: 33083711 PMCID: PMC7571611 DOI: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2002056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) causes severe cognitive dysfunction and has long been studied for the underlining physiological and pathological mechanisms. Several biomedical imaging modalities have been applied, including MRI, PET, and high-resolution optical microscopy, for research purposes. However, there is still a strong need for imaging tools that can provide high spatiotemporal resolutions with relatively deep penetration to enhance our understanding of AD pathology and monitor treatment progress in fundamental research. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging and ultrasound (US) imaging can potentially address these unmet needs in AD research. PA imaging provides functional information with endogenous and/or exogenous contrast, while US imaging provides structural information. Recent studies have demonstrated the ability to monitor physiological parameters in small-animal brains with PA and US imaging as well as the feasibility of using US imaging as a therapeutic tool for AD. This concise review aims to introduce recent advances in AD research using PA and US imaging, provide the fundamentals, and discuss the potentials and challenges for future advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University,
Durham, NC, USA
| | - Xuejun Qian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- USC Roski Eye institute, University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Darrin J. Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Southern
California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Qifa Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- USC Roski Eye institute, University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Junjie Yao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University,
Durham, NC, USA
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42
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Jiang C, Li D, Xu F, Li Y, Liu C, Ta D. Numerical Evaluation of the Influence of Skull Heterogeneity on Transcranial Ultrasonic Focusing. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:317. [PMID: 32351351 PMCID: PMC7174677 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In transcranial penetration, ultrasound undergoes refraction, diffraction, multi-reflection, and mode conversion. These factors lead to phase aberration and waveform distortion, which impede the realization of transcranial ultrasonic imaging and therapy. Ray tracing has been used to correct the phase aberration and is computationally more efficient than traditional full-wave simulation. However, when ray tracing has been used for transcranial investigation, it has generally been on the premise that the skull medium is homogeneous. To find suitable homogeneity that balances computational speed and accuracy, the present work investigates how the focus deviates after phase-aberration compensation with ray tracing using time-reversal theory. The waveforms are synthetized with ray tracing for phase aberration, by which the properties of the skull bone are simplified for refraction calculation as those of either (i) the cortical bone or (ii) the mean of the entire skull bone, and the focusing accuracy is evaluated for each hypothesis. The propagation of ultrasound for transcranial focusing is simulated with the elastic model using the k-space pseudospectral method. Unlike the fluid model, the elastic model does not omit shear waves in the skull bones, and the influence of that omission is investigated, with the fluid model resulting in a focal deflection of 0.5 mm. The focusing deviations are huge when the properties of the skull bone are idealized with ray tracing as those of the mean of the entire skull bone. The focusing accuracy improves when the properties of the skull bone are idealized as those of the cortical bone. The results reveal minimal deviation (8.6, 3.9, and 3.2% in the three Cartesian coordinates) in the focal region and suggest that transcranial focusing deflections are caused mostly by ultrasonic refraction on the surface of the skull bone. A heterogeneous skull bone causes wave bending but minimal focusing deflection. The proposed simplification of a homogeneous skull bone is more accurate for transcranial ultrasonic path estimation and offers promising applications in transcranial ultrasonic focusing and imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Jiang
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengcheng Liu
- Institute of Acoustics, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dean Ta
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of ASIC and System, School of Microelectronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI) of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
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43
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Solomon O, Cohen R, Zhang Y, Yang Y, He Q, Luo J, van Sloun RJG, Eldar YC. Deep Unfolded Robust PCA With Application to Clutter Suppression in Ultrasound. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2020; 39:1051-1063. [PMID: 31535987 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2019.2941271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Contrast enhanced ultrasound is a radiation-free imaging modality which uses encapsulated gas microbubbles for improved visualization of the vascular bed deep within the tissue. It has recently been used to enable imaging with unprecedented subwavelength spatial resolution by relying on super-resolution techniques. A typical preprocessing step in super-resolution ultrasound is to separate the microbubble signal from the cluttering tissue signal. This step has a crucial impact on the final image quality. Here, we propose a new approach to clutter removal based on robust principle component analysis (PCA) and deep learning. We begin by modeling the acquired contrast enhanced ultrasound signal as a combination of low rank and sparse components. This model is used in robust PCA and was previously suggested in the context of ultrasound Doppler processing and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging. We then illustrate that an iterative algorithm based on this model exhibits improved separation of microbubble signal from the tissue signal over commonly practiced methods. Next, we apply the concept of deep unfolding to suggest a deep network architecture tailored to our clutter filtering problem which exhibits improved convergence speed and accuracy with respect to its iterative counterpart. We compare the performance of the suggested deep network on both simulations and in-vivo rat brain scans, with a commonly practiced deep-network architecture and with the fast iterative shrinkage algorithm. We show that our architecture exhibits better image quality and contrast.
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44
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Maresca D, Payen T, Lee-Gosselin A, Ling B, Malounda D, Demené C, Tanter M, Shapiro MG. Acoustic biomolecules enhance hemodynamic functional ultrasound imaging of neural activity. Neuroimage 2020; 209:116467. [PMID: 31846757 PMCID: PMC6955150 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemodynamic functional ultrasound imaging (fUS) of neural activity provides a unique combination of spatial coverage, spatiotemporal resolution and compatibility with freely moving animals. However, deep and transcranial monitoring of brain activity and the imaging of dynamics in slow-flowing blood vessels remains challenging. To enhance fUS capabilities, we introduce biomolecular hemodynamic enhancers based on gas vesicles (GVs), genetically encodable ultrasound contrast agents derived from buoyant photosynthetic microorganisms. We show that intravenously infused GVs enhance ultrafast Doppler ultrasound contrast and visually-evoked hemodynamic contrast in transcranial fUS of the mouse brain. This hemodynamic contrast enhancement is smoother than that provided by conventional microbubbles, allowing GVs to more reliably amplify neuroimaging signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Maresca
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Payen
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM, CNRS, ESPCI, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Lee-Gosselin
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Bill Ling
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Dina Malounda
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Charlie Demené
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM, CNRS, ESPCI, Paris, France
| | - Mickaël Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM, CNRS, ESPCI, Paris, France
| | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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45
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Balamurugan M, Chung K, Kuppoor V, Mahapatra S, Pustavoitau A, Manbachi A. USDL: Inexpensive Medical Imaging Using Deep Learning Techniques and Ultrasound Technology. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ... DESIGN OF MEDICAL DEVICES CONFERENCE. DESIGN OF MEDICAL DEVICES CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:V001T02A001. [PMID: 35253013 PMCID: PMC8895229 DOI: 10.1115/dmd2020-9109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we present USDL, a novel model that employs deep learning algorithms in order to reconstruct and enhance corrupted ultrasound images. We utilize an unsupervised neural network called an autoencoder which works by compressing its input into a latent-space representation and then reconstructing the output from this representation. We trained our model on a dataset that compromises of 15,700 in vivo images of the neck, wrist, elbow, and knee vasculature and compared the quality of the images generated using the structural similarity index (SSIM) and peak to noise ratio (PSNR). In closely simulated conditions, the architecture exhibited an average reconstruction accuracy of 90% as indicated by our SSIM. Our study demonstrates that USDL outperforms state of the art image enhancement and reconstruction techniques in both image quality and computational complexity, while maintaining the architecture efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Smruti Mahapatra
- Dept of Biomedical Engineering-Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Amir Manbachi
- Dept. of Neurosurgery-Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD, United States
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46
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Soloukey S, Vincent AJPE, Satoer DD, Mastik F, Smits M, Dirven CMF, Strydis C, Bosch JG, van der Steen AFW, De Zeeuw CI, Koekkoek SKE, Kruizinga P. Functional Ultrasound (fUS) During Awake Brain Surgery: The Clinical Potential of Intra-Operative Functional and Vascular Brain Mapping. Front Neurosci 2020; 13:1384. [PMID: 31998060 PMCID: PMC6962116 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Oncological neurosurgery relies heavily on making continuous, intra-operative tumor-brain delineations based on image-guidance. Limitations of currently available imaging techniques call for the development of real-time image-guided resection tools, which allow for reliable functional and anatomical information in an intra-operative setting. Functional ultrasound (fUS), is a new mobile neuro-imaging tool with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution, which allows for the detection of small changes in blood dynamics that reflect changes in metabolic activity of activated neurons through neurovascular coupling. We have applied fUS during conventional awake brain surgery to determine its clinical potential for both intra-operative functional and vascular brain mapping, with the ultimate aim of achieving maximum safe tumor resection. Methods During awake brain surgery, fUS was used to image tumor vasculature and task-evoked brain activation with electrocortical stimulation mapping (ESM) as a gold standard. For functional imaging, patients were presented with motor, language or visual tasks, while the probe was placed over (ESM-defined) functional brain areas. For tumor vascular imaging, tumor tissue (pre-resection) and tumor resection cavity (post-resection) were imaged by moving the hand-held probe along a continuous trajectory over the regions of interest. Results A total of 10 patients were included, with predominantly intra-parenchymal frontal and temporal lobe tumors of both low and higher histopathological grades. fUS was able to detect (ESM-defined) functional areas deep inside the brain for a range of functional tasks including language processing. Brain tissue could be imaged at a spatial and temporal resolution of 300 μm and 1.5-2.0 ms respectively, revealing real-time tumor-specific, and healthy vascular characteristics. Conclusion The current study presents the potential of applying fUS during awake brain surgery. We illustrate the relevance of fUS for awake brain surgery based on its ability to capture both task-evoked functional cortical responses as well as differences in vascular characteristics between tumor and healthy tissue. As current neurosurgical practice is still pre-dominantly leaning on inherently limited pre-operative imaging techniques for tumor resection-guidance, fUS enters the scene as a promising alternative that is both anatomically and physiologically informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Soloukey
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Djaina D Satoer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frits Mastik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Centre, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marion Smits
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Johannes G Bosch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Centre, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Pieter Kruizinga
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thorax Centre, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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47
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Nayak R, Fatemi M, Alizad A. Adaptive background noise bias suppression in contrast-free ultrasound microvascular imaging. Phys Med Biol 2019; 64:245015. [PMID: 31855574 PMCID: PMC7241295 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ab5879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Non-invasive, contrast-free imaging of small vessel blood flow is diagnostically invaluable for detection, diagnosis and monitoring of disease. Recent advances in ultrafast imaging and tissue clutter-filtering have considerably improved the sensitivity of power Doppler (PD) imaging in detecting small vessel blood flow. However, suppression of tissue clutter exposes the depth-dependent time-gain compensated noise bias that noticeably degrades the PD image. We hypothesized that background suppression of PD images based on noise bias estimated from the entire clutter-filtered singular value spectrum can considerably improve flow signal visualization compared to currently existing techniques. To test our hypothesis, in vivo experiments were conducted on suspicious breast lesions in 10 subjects and deep-seated hepatic and renal microvasculatures in four healthy volunteers. Ultrasound PD images were acquired using a clinical ultrasound scanner, implemented with compounded plane wave imaging. The time gain compensated noise field was computed from the clutter-filtered Doppler ensemble (CFDE) based on its local spatio-temporal correlation, combined with low-rank signal estimation. Subsequently, the background bias in the PD images was suppressed by subtracting the estimated noise field. Background-suppressed PD images obtained using the proposed technique substantially improved visualization of the blood flow signal. The background bias in the noise suppressed PD images varied <0.6 dB, independent of depth, which otherwise increased up to 13.8 dB. Further, the results demonstrated that the proposed technique efficaciously suppressed the background noise bias associated with smaller Doppler ensembles, which are challenging due to increased overlap between blood flow and noise components in the singular value spectrum. These preliminary results demonstrate the utility of the proposed technique to improve the visualization of small vessel blood flow in contrast-free PD images. The results of this feasibility study were encouraging, and warrant further development and additional in vivo validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Nayak
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55902, United States of America
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48
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Rabut C, Correia M, Finel V, Pezet S, Pernot M, Deffieux T, Tanter M. 4D functional ultrasound imaging of whole-brain activity in rodents. Nat Methods 2019; 16:994-997. [PMID: 31548704 PMCID: PMC6774790 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-019-0572-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
We extended the capabilities of functional ultrasound to whole-brain four-dimensional (4D) neuroimaging. Our multiplane-wave transmission scheme on matrix arrays at thousands of frames per second provides volumetric recordings of cerebral blood volume changes at high spatiotemporal resolution. We illustrated the approach in rats while providing multiple sensory stimuli, for 4D functional connectivity and during instantaneous tracking of epileptiform events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Rabut
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS FRE 2031, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Mafalda Correia
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS FRE 2031, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Victor Finel
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS FRE 2031, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Pezet
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS FRE 2031, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Pernot
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS FRE 2031, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Deffieux
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS FRE 2031, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Mickael Tanter
- Physics for Medicine Paris, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, CNRS FRE 2031, PSL Research University, Paris, France.
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49
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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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50
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Huang C, Song P, Gong P, Trzasko JD, Manduca A, Chen S. Debiasing-Based Noise Suppression for Ultrafast Ultrasound Microvessel Imaging. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2019; 66:1281-1291. [PMID: 31135357 PMCID: PMC6743739 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2019.2918180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound microvessel imaging (UMI) based on the combination of singular value decomposition (SVD) clutter filtering and ultrafast plane wave imaging has recently demonstrated significantly improved Doppler sensitivity, especially to small vessels that are invisible to conventional Doppler imaging. Practical implementation of UMI is hindered by the high computational cost associated with SVD and low blood signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in deep regions of the tissue due to the lack of transmit focusing of plane waves. Concerning the high computational cost, an accelerated SVD clutter filtering method based on randomized SVD (rSVD) and randomized spatial downsampling (rSD) was recently proposed by our group, which showed the feasibility of real-time implementation of UMI. Concerning the low blood flow SNR in deep imaging regions, here we propose a noise suppression method based on noise debiasing that can be easily applied to the accelerated SVD method to bridge the gap between real-time implementation and high imaging quality. The proposed method experimentally measures the noise-induced bias by collecting the noise signal using the identical imaging sequence as regular UMI, but with the ultrasound transmission turned off. The estimated bias can then be subtracted from the original power Doppler (PD) image to obtain effective noise suppression. The feasibility of the proposed method was validated under different ultrasound imaging parameters [including transmitting voltages and time-gain compensation (TGC) settings] with a phantom experiment. The noise-debiased images showed an increase of up to 15.3 and 13.4 dB in SNR as compared to original PD images on the blood flow phantom and an in vivo human kidney data set, respectively. The proposed noise suppression method has negligible computational cost and can be conveniently combined with the previously proposed accelerated SVD clutter filtering technique to achieve high quality, real-time UMI imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengwu Huang
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Pengfei Song
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801
| | - Ping Gong
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Joshua D. Trzasko
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Armando Manduca
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Shigao Chen
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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