1
|
Le Bourlout Y, Ehnholm G, Nieminen HJ. Multi-modal transducer-waveguide construct coupled to a medical needle. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:3388-3396. [PMID: 37991464 DOI: 10.1121/10.0022326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Annually, more than 16 × 109 medical needles are consumed worldwide. However, the functions of the medical needle are still limited mainly to cutting and delivering material to or from a target site. Ultrasound combined with a hypodermic needle could add value to many medical applications, for example, by reducing the penetration force needed during the intervention, adding precision by limiting the needle deflection upon insertion into soft tissues, and even improving tissue collection in fine-needle biopsy applications. In this study, we develop a waveguide construct able to operate a longitudinal-flexural conversion of a wave when transmitted from a Langevin transducer to a conventional medical needle, while maintaining high electric-to-acoustic power efficiency. The optimization of the waveguide structure was realized in silico using the finite element method followed by prototyping the construct and characterizing it experimentally. The experiments conducted at low electrical power consumption (under 5 W) show a 30 kHz flexural needle tip displacement up to 200 μm and 73% electric-to-acoustic power efficiency. This, associated with a small sized transducer, could facilitate the design of ultrasonic medical needles, enabling portability, batterization, and improved electrical safety, for applications such as biopsy, drug and gene delivery, and minimally invasive interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yohann Le Bourlout
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - Gösta Ehnholm
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - Heikki J Nieminen
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Rakentajanaukio 2, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Orlando N, Snir J, Barker K, D'Souza D, Velker V, Mendez LC, Fenster A, Hoover DA. A power Doppler ultrasound method for improving intraoperative tip localization for visually obstructed needles in interstitial prostate brachytherapy. Med Phys 2023; 50:2649-2661. [PMID: 36846880 DOI: 10.1002/mp.16336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE High-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (BT) is a common treatment technique for localized intermediate to high-risk prostate cancer. Transrectal ultrasound (US) imaging is typically used for guiding needle insertion, including localization of the needle tip which is critical for treatment planning. However, image artifacts can limit needle tip visibility in standard brightness (B)-mode US, potentially leading to dose delivery that deviates from the planned dose. To improve intraoperative tip visualization in visually obstructed needles, we propose a power Doppler (PD) US method which utilizes a novel wireless mechanical oscillator, validated in phantom experiments and clinical HDR-BT cases as part of a feasibility clinical trial. METHODS Our wireless oscillator contains a DC motor housed in a 3D printed case and is powered by rechargeable battery allowing the device to be operated by one person with no additional equipment required in the operating room. The oscillator end-piece features a cylindrical shape designed for BT applications to fit on top of the commonly used cylindrical needle mandrins. Phantom validation was completed using tissue-equivalent agar phantoms with the clinical US system and both plastic and metal needles. Our PD method was tested using a needle implant pattern matching a standard HDR-BT procedure as well as an implant pattern designed to maximize needle shadowing artifacts. Needle tip localization accuracy was assessed using the clinical method based on ideal reference needles as well as a comparison to computed tomography (CT) as a gold standard. Clinical validation was completed in five patients who underwent standard HDR-BT as part of a feasibility clinical trial. Needle tips positions were identified using B-mode US and PD US with perturbation from our wireless oscillator. RESULTS Absolute mean ± standard deviation tip error for B-mode alone, PD alone, and B-mode combined with PD was respectively: 0.3 ± 0.3 mm, 0.6 ± 0.5 mm, and 0.4 ± 0.2 mm for the mock HDR-BT needle implant; 0.8 ± 1.7 mm, 0.4 ± 0.6 mm, and 0.3 ± 0.5 mm for the explicit shadowing implant with plastic needles; and 0.5 ± 0.2 mm, 0.5 ± 0.3 mm, and 0.6 ± 0.2 mm for the explicit shadowing implant with metal needles. The total mean absolute tip error for all five patients in the feasibility clinical trial was 0.9 ± 0.7 mm using B-mode US alone and 0.8 ± 0.5 mm when including PD US, with increased benefit observed for needles classified as visually obstructed. CONCLUSIONS Our proposed PD needle tip localization method is easy to implement and requires no modifications or additions to the standard clinical equipment or workflow. We have demonstrated decreased tip localization error and variation for visually obstructed needles in both phantom and clinical cases, including providing the ability to visualize needles previously not visible using B-mode US alone. This method has the potential to improve needle visualization in challenging cases without burdening the clinical workflow, potentially improving treatment accuracy in HDR-BT and more broadly in any minimally invasive needle-based procedure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Orlando
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonatan Snir
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kevin Barker
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David D'Souza
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vikram Velker
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lucas C Mendez
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron Fenster
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Douglas A Hoover
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Perra E, Hayward N, Pritzker KPH, Nieminen HJ. An ultrasonically actuated fine-needle creates cavitation in bovine liver. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 151:3690. [PMID: 35778205 DOI: 10.1121/10.0010534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasonic cavitation is being used in medical applications as a way to influence matter, such as tissue or drug vehicles, on a micro-scale. Oscillating or collapsing cavitation bubbles provide transient mechanical force fields, which can, e.g., fractionate soft tissue or even disintegrate solid objects, such as calculi. Our recent study demonstrates that an ultrasonically actuated medical needle can create cavitation phenomena inside water. However, the presence and behavior of cavitation and related bioeffects in diagnostic and therapeutic applications with ultrasonically actuated needles are not known. Using simulations, we demonstrate numerically and experimentally the cavitation phenomena near ultrasonically actuated needles. We define the cavitation onset within a liver tissue model with different total acoustic power levels. We directly visualize and quantitatively characterize cavitation events generated by the ultrasonic needle in thin fresh bovine liver sections enabled by high-speed imaging. On a qualitative basis, the numerical and experimental results show a close resemblance in threshold and spatial distribution of cavitation. These findings are crucial for developing new methods and technologies employing ultrasonically actuated fine needles, such as ultrasound-enhanced fine-needle biopsy, drug delivery, and histotripsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Perra
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - Nick Hayward
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - Kenneth P H Pritzker
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Heikki J Nieminen
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Perra E, Lampsijärvi E, Barreto G, Arif M, Puranen T, Hæggström E, Pritzker KPH, Nieminen HJ. Ultrasonic actuation of a fine-needle improves biopsy yield. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8234. [PMID: 33859220 PMCID: PMC8050323 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87303-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the ubiquitous use over the past 150 years, the functions of the current medical needle are facilitated only by mechanical shear and cutting by the needle tip, i.e. the lancet. In this study, we demonstrate how nonlinear ultrasonics (NLU) extends the functionality of the medical needle far beyond its present capability. The NLU actions were found to be localized to the proximity of the needle tip, the SonoLancet, but the effects extend to several millimeters from the physical needle boundary. The observed nonlinear phenomena, transient cavitation, fluid streams, translation of micro- and nanoparticles and atomization, were quantitatively characterized. In the fine-needle biopsy application, the SonoLancet contributed to obtaining tissue cores with an increase in tissue yield by 3–6× in different tissue types compared to conventional needle biopsy technique using the same 21G needle. In conclusion, the SonoLancet could be of interest to several other medical applications, including drug or gene delivery, cell modulation, and minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Perra
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Eetu Lampsijärvi
- Electronics Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00560, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gonçalo Barreto
- Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00100, Helsinki, Finland.,Orton, 00280, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Muhammad Arif
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Tuomas Puranen
- Electronics Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00560, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Edward Hæggström
- Electronics Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00560, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kenneth P H Pritzker
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Heikki J Nieminen
- Medical Ultrasonics Laboratory (MEDUSA), Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jiang T, Zhu X, Jiao Y, Li X, Shen Z, Cui Y. Localization Accuracy of Ultrasound-Actuated Needle with Color Doppler Imaging. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:diagnostics10121020. [PMID: 33260712 PMCID: PMC7761225 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10121020] [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: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
An ultrasonic needle-actuating device for tissue biopsy and regional anaesthesia offers enhanced needle visibility with color Doppler imaging. However, its specific performance is not yet fully determined. This work investigated the influence on needle visibility of the insertion angle and drive voltage, as well as determined the accuracy and agreement of needle tip localization by comparing color Doppler measurements with paired photographic and B-mode ultrasound measurements. Needle tip accuracy measurements in a gelatin phantom gave a regression trend, where the slope of trend is 0.8808; coefficient of determination (R2) is 0.8877; bias is −0.50 mm; and the 95% limits of agreement are from −1.31 to 0.31 mm when comparing color Doppler with photographic measurements. When comparing the color Doppler with B-mode ultrasound measurements, the slope of the regression trend is 1.0179; R2 is 0.9651; bias is −0.16 mm; and the 95% limits of agreement are from −1.935 to 1.605 mm. The results demonstrate the accuracy of this technique and its potential for application to biopsy and ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingyi Jiang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215010, China; (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (X.L.); (Z.S.)
- Correspondence: (T.J.); (Y.C.)
| | - Xinle Zhu
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215010, China; (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (X.L.); (Z.S.)
| | - Yang Jiao
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215010, China; (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (X.L.); (Z.S.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinze Li
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215010, China; (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (X.L.); (Z.S.)
| | - Zhitian Shen
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215010, China; (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (X.L.); (Z.S.)
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Yaoyao Cui
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215010, China; (X.Z.); (Y.J.); (X.L.); (Z.S.)
- Correspondence: (T.J.); (Y.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bowness J, Taylor A. Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anaesthesia: Visualising the Nerve and Needle. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1235:19-34. [PMID: 32488634 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-37639-0_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Regional anaesthesia involves targeting specific peripheral nerves with local anaesthetic. It facilitates the delivery of anaesthesia and analgesia to an increasingly complex, elderly and co-morbid patient population. Regional anaesthesia practice has been transformed by the use of ultrasound, which confers advantages such as accuracy of needle placement, visualisation of local anaesthetic spread, avoidance of intraneural injection and the ability to accommodate for anatomical variation.An US beam is generated by the application of electrical current to an array of piezoelectric crystals, causing vibration and consequential production of high-frequency sound waves. The sound energy is reflected at tissue interfaces, detected by the piezoelectric crystals in the ultrasound probe, and most frequently displayed as a 2D image.Optimising image acquisition involves selection of the appropriate US frequency: this represents a trade-off between image resolution (better with high frequency) and tissue penetration/beam attenuation (better with low frequency). Altering alignment, rotation and tilt of the probe is often required to optimise the view as nerves are best visualised when the ultrasound beam is directly perpendicular to their fibres. Adjusting the focus, depth, and gain (brightness) of the image display can also help in this matter.Three key challenges exist in regional anaesthesia; image optimisation, image interpretation (nerve visualisation) and needle visualisation. There are characteristic sonographic appearances of the nerve structures for peripheral nerve blocks, as discussed in this chapter, and the above techniques can be used to enhance their appearance. Much research has been done, and is ongoing, with the aim of improving needle visualisation; this is also reviewed. Image interpretation requires the application of anatomical knowledge and understanding of the typical sonographic appearance of different tissues (as well as the needle). Years of practice are required to attain expertise, although it is hoped that continuing advances in nerve and needle visualisation, as described in this chapter, will expedite that process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Bowness
- University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
- NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
- Department of Anaesthesia, Level 6, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pritzker KPH, Nieminen HJ. Needle Biopsy Adequacy in the Era of Precision Medicine and Value-Based Health Care. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2019; 143:1399-1415. [PMID: 31100015 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2018-0463-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Needle biopsy of diseased tissue is an essential diagnostic tool that is becoming even more important as precision medicine develops. However, the capability of this modality to efficiently provide samples adequate for diagnostic and prognostic analysis remains quite limited relative to current diagnostic needs. For physicians and patients, inadequate biopsy frequently leads to diagnostic delay, procedure duplication, or insufficient information about tumor biology leading to delay in treatment; for health systems, this results in substantial incremental costs and inefficient use of scarce specialized diagnostic resources. OBJECTIVE.— To review current needle biopsy technology, devices, and practice with a perspective to identify current limitations and opportunities for improvement in the context of advancing precision medicine. DATA SOURCES.— PubMed searches of fine-needle aspiration and core needle biopsy devices and similar technologies were made generally, by tissue site, and by adequacy as well as by health economics of these technologies. CONCLUSIONS.— Needle biopsy adequacy can be improved by recognizing the importance of this diagnostic tool by promoting common criteria for needle biopsy adequacy; by optimizing needle biopsy procedural technique, technologies, clinical practice, professional education, and quality assurance; and by bundling biopsy procedure costs with downstream diagnostic modalities to provide better accountability and incentives to improve the diagnostic process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth P H Pritzker
- From the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Pritzker); and the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland (Dr Nieminen)
| | - Heikki J Nieminen
- From the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, and Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Pritzker); and the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland (Dr Nieminen)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jiang T, Xia C, Cochran S, Huang Z. Improved Performance of -Mode Needle-Actuating Transducer With PMN-PT Piezocrystal. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2018; 65:1415-1422. [PMID: 29994524 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2018.2838566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Prototypes of a PZT-based ultrasound needle-actuating device have shown the ability to reduce needle penetration force and enhance needle visibility with color Doppler imaging during needle insertion for tissue biopsy and regional anesthesia. However, the demand for smaller, lighter devices and the need for high performance transducers have motivated investigation of a different configuration of needle-actuation transducer, utilizing the -mode of PZT4 piezoceramic, and exploration of further improvement in its performance using relaxor-type piezocrystal. This paper outlines the development of the -mode needle actuation transducer design from simulation to fabrication and demonstration. Full characterization was performed on transducers for performance comparison. The performance of the proposed smaller, lighter -mode transducer is comparable with that of previous -mode transducers. Furthermore, it has been found to be much more efficient when using PMN-PT piezocrystal rather than piezoceramic.
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang Z, Li F, Chen R, Zhang T, Cao X, Zhang S, Shrout TR, Zheng H, Shung KK, Humayun MS, Qiu W, Zhou Q. High-Performance Ultrasound Needle Transducer Based on Modified PMN-PT Ceramic With Ultrahigh Clamped Dielectric Permittivity. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2018; 65:223-230. [PMID: 29389654 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2017.2778738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A modified Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) polycrystalline ceramic with ultrahigh relative clamped dielectric permittivity ( ) and high piezoelectric properties ( pC/N, ) was used to fabricate high-frequency miniature ultrasound transducers. A 39-MHz high-frequency ultrasound needle transducer with a miniature aperture of 0.4 mm mm was designed and successfully characterized. The fabricated needle transducer had an electromechanical coupling factor of 0.55, large bandwidth of 80% at -6 dB, and low insertion loss of -13 dB. A wire phantom and porcine eyeball imaging study showed good imaging capability of this needle transducer. The transducer performance was found to be superior to that of other needle transducers with miniature apertures, making this modified PMN-PT ceramic-based needle transducer quite promising for minimally invasive procedures in medical applications.
Collapse
|
10
|
Mwikirize C, Nosher JL, Hacihaliloglu I. Signal attenuation maps for needle enhancement and localization in 2D ultrasound. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg 2018; 13:363-374. [PMID: 29294213 DOI: 10.1007/s11548-017-1698-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We propose a novel framework for enhancement and localization of steeply inserted hand-held needles under in-plane 2D ultrasound guidance. METHODS Depth-dependent attenuation and non-axial specular reflection hinder visibility of steeply inserted needles. Here, we model signal transmission maps representative of the attenuation probability within the image domain. The maps are employed in a contextual regularization framework to recover needle shaft and tip information. The needle tip is automatically localized by line-fitting along the local-phase-directed trajectory, followed by statistical optimization. RESULTS The proposed method was tested on 300 ex vivo ultrasound scans collected during insertion of an epidural needle into freshly excised porcine and bovine tissue. A tip localization accuracy of [Formula: see text] was achieved. CONCLUSION The proposed method could be useful in challenging procedures where needle shaft and tip are inconspicuous. Improved needle localization results compared to previously proposed methods suggest that the proposed method is promising for further clinical evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cosmas Mwikirize
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - John L Nosher
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Ilker Hacihaliloglu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.,Department of Radiology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Feng Y, Dong F, Xia X, Hu CH, Fan Q, Hu Y, Gao M, Mutic S. An adaptive Fuzzy C-means method utilizing neighboring information for breast tumor segmentation in ultrasound images. Med Phys 2017; 44:3752-3760. [PMID: 28513858 DOI: 10.1002/mp.12350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Ultrasound (US) imaging has been widely used in breast tumor diagnosis and treatment intervention. Automatic delineation of the tumor is a crucial first step, especially for the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) and US-guided breast procedure. However, the intrinsic properties of US images such as low contrast and blurry boundaries pose challenges to the automatic segmentation of the breast tumor. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to propose a segmentation algorithm that can contour the breast tumor in US images. METHODS To utilize the neighbor information of each pixel, a Hausdorff distance based fuzzy c-means (FCM) method was adopted. The size of the neighbor region was adaptively updated by comparing the mutual information between them. The objective function of the clustering process was updated by a combination of Euclid distance and the adaptively calculated Hausdorff distance. Segmentation results were evaluated by comparing with three experts' manual segmentations. The results were also compared with a kernel-induced distance based FCM with spatial constraints, the method without adaptive region selection, and conventional FCM. RESULTS Results from segmenting 30 patient images showed the adaptive method had a value of sensitivity, specificity, Jaccard similarity, and Dice coefficient of 93.60 ± 5.33%, 97.83 ± 2.17%, 86.38 ± 5.80%, and 92.58 ± 3.68%, respectively. The region-based metrics of average symmetric surface distance (ASSD), root mean square symmetric distance (RMSD), and maximum symmetric surface distance (MSSD) were 0.03 ± 0.04 mm, 0.04 ± 0.03 mm, and 1.18 ± 1.01 mm, respectively. All the metrics except sensitivity were better than that of the non-adaptive algorithm and the conventional FCM. Only three region-based metrics were better than that of the kernel-induced distance based FCM with spatial constraints. CONCLUSION Inclusion of the pixel neighbor information adaptively in segmenting US images improved the segmentation performance. The results demonstrate the potential application of the method in breast tumor CAD and other US-guided procedures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Feng
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, School of Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.,School of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215021, China.,School of Computer Science and Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215021, China
| | - Fenglin Dong
- Department of Ultrasounds, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Xiaolong Xia
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, School of Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Chun-Hong Hu
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Qianmin Fan
- Department of Ultrasounds, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Yanle Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Mingyuan Gao
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, School of Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Sasa Mutic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Scholten HJ, Pourtaherian A, Mihajlovic N, Korsten HHM, A. Bouwman R. Improving needle tip identification during ultrasound-guided procedures in anaesthetic practice. Anaesthesia 2017; 72:889-904. [DOI: 10.1111/anae.13921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. J. Scholten
- Department of Anaesthesiology; Intensive Care and Pain Medicine; Catharina Hospital; Eindhoven the Netherlands
| | - A. Pourtaherian
- Department of Electrical Engineering; Eindhoven University of Technology; Eindhoven the Netherlands
| | | | - H. H. M. Korsten
- Department of Anaesthesiology; Intensive Care and Pain Medicine; Catharina Hospital; Eindhoven the Netherlands
- Department of Electrical Engineering; Eindhoven University of Technology; Eindhoven the Netherlands
| | - R. A. Bouwman
- Department of Anaesthesiology; Intensive Care and Pain Medicine; Catharina Hospital; Eindhoven the Netherlands
- Department of Electrical Engineering; Eindhoven University of Technology; Eindhoven the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|