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Rohfritsch A, Franceschini E, Dupré A, Melodelima D. Quantitative ultrasound techniques for assessing thermal ablation: Measurement of the backscatter coefficient from ex vivo human liver. Med Phys 2023; 50:6908-6919. [PMID: 37769022 DOI: 10.1002/mp.16762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the changes occurring in biological tissue during thermal ablation is at the heart of many current challenges in both therapy and medical imaging research. PURPOSE The objective of this work is to quantitatively interpret the scattering response of human liver samples, before and after thermal ablation. We report acoustic measurements performed involving n = 21 human liver samples. Thermal ablation is achieved at temperatures between 45 and 80°C and quantification of the irreversible changes in acoustic attenuation and Backscattering Coefficient (BSC) is reported, with a particular attention to the latter. METHODS Both attenuation coefficient and BSCs were measured in the frequency range from 10 to 52 MHz. Scans were performed before heating and after cooling down. Attenuation coefficients were calculated using spectral difference method and BSC estimated using the reference phantom method. RESULTS Strong increases of attenuation coefficients and BSCs with heating temperature were observed. Quantitative ultrasonic parameters obtained with the polydisperse structure factor model (poly-SFM)are compared to histological observations and seen to be close to hepatocyte mean diameter (HMD). CONCLUSIONS The results presented in this study provide a description of the impact of thermal ablation in human liver tissue on acoustic attenuation and the BSC. For the first time, quantitative agreement between the Effective Scatterer Diameter (ESD) estimated from BSC and HMD was shown, highlighting the important role of cellular network in the scattering response of the medium. This core result is an important step toward the determination of the nature of scattering sources in biological tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Rohfritsch
- LabTAU, INSERM, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon 1, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Aurélien Dupré
- LabTAU, INSERM, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon 1, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - David Melodelima
- LabTAU, INSERM, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Lyon 1, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France
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Malinet C, Montcel B, Dutour A, Fajnorova I, Liebgott H, Muleki-Seya P. Cancer characterization using light backscattering spectroscopy and quantitative ultrasound: an ex vivo study on sarcoma subtypes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16650. [PMID: 37789008 PMCID: PMC10547769 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43322-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Histological analysis is the gold standard method for cancer diagnosis. However, it is prone to subjectivity and sampling bias. In response to these limitations, we introduce a quantitative bimodal approach that aims to provide non-invasive guidance towards suspicious regions. Light backscattering spectroscopy and quantitative ultrasound techniques were combined to characterize two different bone tumor types from animal models: chondrosarcomas and osteosarcomas. Two different cell lines were used to induce osteosarcoma growth. Histological analyses were conducted to serve as references. Three ultrasound parameters and intensities of the light reflectance profiles showed significant differences between chondrosarcomas and osteosarcomas at the 5% level. Likewise, variations in the same biomarkers were reported for the two types of osteosarcoma, despite their similar morphology observed in the histological examinations. These observations show the sensitivity of our techniques in probing fine tissue properties. Secondly, the ultrasound spectral-based technique identified the mean size of chondrosarcoma cells and nuclei with relative errors of about 22% and 9% respectively. The optical equivalent technique correctly extracted scatterer size distributions that encompass nuclei and cells for chondrosarcomas and osteosarcomas ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] respectively). The optical scattering contributions of nuclei were estimated at 52% for the chondrosarcomas and 69% for the osteosarcomas, probably indicating the abundant and the absent extracellular matrix respectively. Thus, the ultrasound and the optical methods brought complementary parameters. They successfully estimated morphological parameters at the cellular and the nuclear scales, making our bimodal technique promising for tumor characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Malinet
- Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR 5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
| | - Bruno Montcel
- Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR 5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Aurélie Dutour
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon/Centre Léon Bérard, Equipe mort cellulaire et cancers pédiatriques, UMR INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Lyon , France
| | - Iveta Fajnorova
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon/Centre Léon Bérard, Equipe mort cellulaire et cancers pédiatriques, UMR INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Lyon , France
| | - Hervé Liebgott
- Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR 5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Pauline Muleki-Seya
- Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR 5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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Antoniou A, Stavrou M, Evripidou N, Georgiou E, Kousiappa I, Koupparis A, Papacostas SS, Kleopa KA, Damianou C. FUS-mediated blood-brain barrier disruption for delivering anti-Aβ antibodies in 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease mice. J Ultrasound 2023:10.1007/s40477-023-00805-4. [PMID: 37516718 DOI: 10.1007/s40477-023-00805-4] [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: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, the main component of amyloid plaques found in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain, are implicated in its pathogenesis, and are considered a key target in AD therapeutics. We herein propose a reliable strategy for non-invasively delivering a specific anti-Aβ antibody in a mouse model of AD by microbubbles-enhanced Focused Ultrasound (FUS)-mediated Blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBD), using a simple single stage MR-compatible positioning device. METHODS The initial experimental work involved wild-type mice and was devoted to selecting the sonication protocol for efficient and safe BBBD. Pulsed FUS was applied using a single-element FUS transducer of 1 MHz (80 mm radius of curvature and 50 mm diameter). The success and extent of BBBD were assessed by Evans Blue extravasation and brain damage by hematoxylin and eosin staining. 5XFAD mice were divided into different subgroups; control (n = 1), FUS + MBs alone (n = 5), antibody alone (n = 5), and FUS + antibody combined (n = 10). The changes in antibody deposition among groups were determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS It was confirmed that the antibody could not normally enter the brain parenchyma. A single treatment with MBs-enhanced pulsed FUS using the optimized protocol (1 MHz, 0.5 MPa in-situ pressure, 10 ms bursts, 1% duty factor, 100 s duration) transiently disrupted the BBB allowing for non-invasive antibody delivery to amyloid plaques within the sonicated brain regions. This was consistently reproduced in ten mice. CONCLUSION These preliminary findings should be confirmed by longer-term studies examining the antibody effects on plaque clearance and cognitive benefit to hold promise for developing disease-modifying anti-Aβ therapeutics for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Antoniou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Marios Stavrou
- Department of Neurobiology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Nikolas Evripidou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Elena Georgiou
- Department of Neuroscience, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Ioanna Kousiappa
- Department of Neurobiology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Andreas Koupparis
- Department of Neurobiology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Savvas S Papacostas
- Department of Neurobiology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Kleopas A Kleopa
- Department of Neuroscience, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christakis Damianou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
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Stiles TA. Phantoms for Quantitative Ultrasound. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1403:281-301. [PMID: 37495923 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21987-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Tissue-mimicking materials and phantoms have an important role in quantitative ultrasound. These materials allow for investigation of new techniques with the ability to design materials with properties that are stable over time and available for repeated measurements to refine techniques and analysis algorithms. This chapter presents an overview of the history of phantoms, methods of creation of materials with a variety of acoustic properties, and methods of measurement of those properties. It includes a section addressing the measurement of variance in those techniques using interlaboratory comparisons. There is a wide range of existing tissue-mimicking materials that exhibit properties similar to those of most soft tissues. Ongoing work is part of the expansion of QUS as materials are developed to better mimic specific tissues, geometries, or pathologies.
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Rosado-Mendez IM. Recent Advances in Attenuation Estimation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1403:85-104. [PMID: 37495916 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21987-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
This chapter reviews some of the recent advances in the estimation of the local and the total attenuation, with an emphasis on reducing the bias and variance of the estimates. A special focus is put on describing the effect of power spectrum estimation on bias and variance, the introduction of regularization strategies, as well as on eliminating the need to use reference phantoms for compensating for system dependent effects.
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Oelze M. Quantitative Ultrasound: Experimental Implementation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1403:29-42. [PMID: 37495913 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21987-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The backscatter coefficient is a fundamental property of tissues, much like the attenuation and sound speed. From the backscatter coefficient, different scatterer properties describing the underlying tissue can be used to characterize tissue state. Furthermore, because the backscatter coefficient is a fundamental property of a tissue, estimation of the backscatter coefficient should be able to be computed with system and operator independence. To accomplish system- and operator-independent estimates of the backscatter coefficient, a calibration spectrum must be obtained at the same system settings as the settings used to scan a tissue. In this chapter, we discuss three approaches to obtaining a calibration spectrum and compare the engineering tradeoffs associated with each approach. In addition, methods for reducing deterministic noise in the backscatter coefficient spectrum are considered and implementation of these techniques is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Oelze
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
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A Cost-Effective Reusable Tissue Mimicking Phantom for High Intensity Focused Ultrasonic Liver Surgery. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:bioengineering9120786. [PMID: 36550992 PMCID: PMC9774244 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9120786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A polyacrylamide polysaccharide hydrogel (PASG) containing a nonionic surfactant of the polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ethers series (NP14) has been adapted to the fabrication of a reusable cost-effective ultrasonic tissue-mimicking phantom for real-time visualization of the thermal lesions by high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) irradiation. The constructed NP14 (40% in w/v) PASG is optically transparent at room temperatures, and it turns out to be opaque white as heated over the clouding points of about 55 °C and returns to its original transparent state after cooling. The acoustic property of the proposed phantom is similar to those of human liver tissues, which includes the acoustic impedance of 1.68 Mrayls, the speed of sound of 1595 ± 5 m/s, the attenuation coefficient of 0.52 ± 0.05 dB cm-1 (at 1 MHz), the backscatter coefficient of 0.21 ± 0.09 × 10-3 sr-1 cm-1 (at 1 MHz), and the nonlinear parameter B/A of 6.4 ± 0.2. The NP14-PASG was tested to assess the characteristic information (sizes, shapes, and locations) of the thermal lesions visualized when exposed to typical HIFU fields (1.1 MHz, focal pressure up to 20.1 MPa, focal intensity 4075 W/cm2). The proposed NP14-PASG is expected to replace the existing costly BSA-PASG used for more effective testing of the performance of therapeutic ultrasonic devices based on thermal mechanisms.
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Wear KA, Han A, Rubin JM, Gao J, Lavarello R, Cloutier G, Bamber J, Tuthill T. US Backscatter for Liver Fat Quantification: An AIUM-RSNA QIBA Pulse-Echo Quantitative Ultrasound Initiative. Radiology 2022; 305:526-537. [PMID: 36255312 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.220606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is believed to affect one-third of American adults. Noninvasive methods that enable detection and monitoring of NAFLD have the potential for great public health benefits. Because of its low cost, portability, and noninvasiveness, US is an attractive alternative to both biopsy and MRI in the assessment of liver steatosis. NAFLD is qualitatively associated with enhanced B-mode US echogenicity, but visual measures of B-mode echogenicity are negatively affected by interobserver variability. Alternatively, quantitative backscatter parameters, including the hepatorenal index and backscatter coefficient, are being investigated with the goal of improving US-based characterization of NAFLD. The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Radiological Society of North America Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance are working to standardize US acquisition protocols and data analysis methods to improve the diagnostic performance of the backscatter coefficient in liver fat assessment. This review article explains the science and clinical evidence underlying backscatter for liver fat assessment. Recommendations for data collection are discussed, with the aim of minimizing potential confounding effects associated with technical and biologic variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Wear
- From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, WO62, Room 2114, Silver Spring, MD 20993 (K.A.W.); Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill (A.H.); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich (J.M.R.); Ultrasound Research and Education, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah (J.G.); Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru (R.L.); Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada (G.C.); Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Joint Department of Physics, London, UK (J.B.); and Pfizer, Cambridge, Mass (T.T.)
| | - Aiguo Han
- From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, WO62, Room 2114, Silver Spring, MD 20993 (K.A.W.); Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill (A.H.); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich (J.M.R.); Ultrasound Research and Education, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah (J.G.); Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru (R.L.); Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada (G.C.); Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Joint Department of Physics, London, UK (J.B.); and Pfizer, Cambridge, Mass (T.T.)
| | - Jonathan M Rubin
- From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, WO62, Room 2114, Silver Spring, MD 20993 (K.A.W.); Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill (A.H.); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich (J.M.R.); Ultrasound Research and Education, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah (J.G.); Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru (R.L.); Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada (G.C.); Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Joint Department of Physics, London, UK (J.B.); and Pfizer, Cambridge, Mass (T.T.)
| | - Jing Gao
- From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, WO62, Room 2114, Silver Spring, MD 20993 (K.A.W.); Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill (A.H.); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich (J.M.R.); Ultrasound Research and Education, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah (J.G.); Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru (R.L.); Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada (G.C.); Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Joint Department of Physics, London, UK (J.B.); and Pfizer, Cambridge, Mass (T.T.)
| | - Roberto Lavarello
- From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, WO62, Room 2114, Silver Spring, MD 20993 (K.A.W.); Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill (A.H.); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich (J.M.R.); Ultrasound Research and Education, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah (J.G.); Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru (R.L.); Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada (G.C.); Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Joint Department of Physics, London, UK (J.B.); and Pfizer, Cambridge, Mass (T.T.)
| | - Guy Cloutier
- From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, WO62, Room 2114, Silver Spring, MD 20993 (K.A.W.); Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill (A.H.); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich (J.M.R.); Ultrasound Research and Education, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah (J.G.); Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru (R.L.); Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada (G.C.); Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Joint Department of Physics, London, UK (J.B.); and Pfizer, Cambridge, Mass (T.T.)
| | - Jeffrey Bamber
- From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, WO62, Room 2114, Silver Spring, MD 20993 (K.A.W.); Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill (A.H.); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich (J.M.R.); Ultrasound Research and Education, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah (J.G.); Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru (R.L.); Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada (G.C.); Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Joint Department of Physics, London, UK (J.B.); and Pfizer, Cambridge, Mass (T.T.)
| | - Theresa Tuthill
- From the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, WO62, Room 2114, Silver Spring, MD 20993 (K.A.W.); Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Ill (A.H.); Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich (J.M.R.); Ultrasound Research and Education, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, Utah (J.G.); Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru (R.L.); Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada (G.C.); Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, Joint Department of Physics, London, UK (J.B.); and Pfizer, Cambridge, Mass (T.T.)
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Fetzer DT, Rosado-Mendez IM, Wang M, Robbin ML, Ozturk A, Wear KA, Ormachea J, Stiles TA, Fowlkes JB, Hall TJ, Samir AE. Pulse-Echo Quantitative US Biomarkers for Liver Steatosis: Toward Technical Standardization. Radiology 2022; 305:265-276. [PMID: 36098640 PMCID: PMC9613608 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.212808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Excessive liver fat (steatosis) is now the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and is an independent risk factor for cirrhosis and associated complications. Accurate and clinically useful diagnosis, risk stratification, prognostication, and therapy monitoring require accurate and reliable biomarker measurement at acceptable cost. This article describes a joint effort by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and the RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) to develop standards for clinical and technical validation of quantitative biomarkers for liver steatosis. The AIUM Liver Fat Quantification Task Force provides clinical guidance, while the RSNA QIBA Pulse-Echo Quantitative Ultrasound Biomarker Committee develops methods to measure biomarkers and reduce biomarker variability. In this article, the authors present the clinical need for quantitative imaging biomarkers of liver steatosis, review the current state of various imaging modalities, and describe the technical state of the art for three key liver steatosis pulse-echo quantitative US biomarkers: attenuation coefficient, backscatter coefficient, and speed of sound. Lastly, a perspective on current challenges and recommendations for clinical translation for each biomarker is offered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael Wang
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
| | - Michelle L. Robbin
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
| | - Arinc Ozturk
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
| | - Keith A. Wear
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
| | - Juvenal Ormachea
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
| | - Timothy A. Stiles
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
| | - J. Brian Fowlkes
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
| | - Timothy J. Hall
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
| | - Anthony E. Samir
- From the Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (D.T.F.); Departments of Medical Physics (I.M.R.M.,
T.J.H.) and Radiology (I.M.R.M.), University of Wisconsin, Institutes for
Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave, Room 1005, Madison, WI 53705; General
Electric Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wis (M.W.); Department of Radiology, University
of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala (M.L.R.); Department of Radiology,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass (A.O.); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, Silver Spring, Md (K.A.W.); Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (J.O.); Department
of Natural Sciences, Kettering University, Flint, Mich (T.A.S.); Departments of
Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich
(J.B.F.); RSNA Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (T.J.H.); and Center for
Ultrasound Research & Translation, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (A.E.S.)
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10
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Goryachev I, Tresansky AP, Ely GT, Chrzanowski SM, Nagy JA, Rutkove SB, Anthony BW. Comparison of Quantitative Ultrasound Methods to Classify Dystrophic and Obese Models of Skeletal Muscle. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2022; 48:1918-1932. [PMID: 35811236 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2022.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we compared multiple quantitative ultrasound metrics for the purpose of differentiating muscle in 20 healthy, 10 dystrophic and 10 obese mice. High-frequency ultrasound scans were acquired on dystrophic (D2-mdx), obese (db/db) and control mouse hindlimbs. A total of 248 image features were extracted from each scan, using brightness-mode statistics, Canny edge detection metrics, Haralick features, envelope statistics and radiofrequency statistics. Naïve Bayes and other classifiers were trained on single and pairs of features. The a parameter from the Homodyned K distribution at 40 MHz achieved the best univariate classification (accuracy = 85.3%). Maximum classification accuracy of 97.7% was achieved using a logistic regression classifier on the feature pair of a2 (K distribution) at 30 MHz and brightness-mode variance at 40MHz. Dystrophic and obese mice have muscle with distinct acoustic properties and can be classified to a high level of accuracy using a combination of multiple features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Goryachev
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anne Pigula Tresansky
- Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gregory Tsiang Ely
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephen M Chrzanowski
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Janice A Nagy
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Seward B Rutkove
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brian W Anthony
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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11
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Wear KA, Shah A, Baker C. Spatiotemporal Deconvolution of Hydrophone Response for Linear and Nonlinear Beams-Part II: Experimental Validation. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2022; 69:1257-1267. [PMID: 35143394 PMCID: PMC9136594 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2022.3150179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
This article reports experimental validation for spatiotemporal deconvolution methods and simple empirical formulas to correct pressure and beamwidth measurements for spatial averaging across a hydrophone sensitive element. The method was validated using linear and nonlinear beams transmitted by seven single-element spherically focusing transducers (2-10 MHz; F /#: 1-3) and measured with five hydrophones (sensitive element diameters dg : 85-1000 [Formula: see text]), resulting in 35 transducer/hydrophone combinations. Exponential functions, exp( -αx ), where x = dg /( λ1F /#) and λ1 is the fundamental wavelength, were used to model focal pressure ratios p'/p (where p' is the measured value subjected to spatial averaging and p is the true axial value that would be obtained with a hypothetical point hydrophone). Spatiotemporal deconvolution reduced α (followed by root mean squared difference between data and fit) from 0.29-0.30 (7%) to 0.01 (8%) (linear signals) and from 0.29-0.40 (8%) to 0.04 (14%) (nonlinear signals), indicating successful spatial averaging correction. Linear functions, Cx + 1, were used to model FWHM'/FWHM, where FWHM is full-width half-maximum. Spatiotemporal deconvolution reduced C from 9% (4%) to -0.6% (1%) (linear signals) and from 30% (10%) to 6% (5%) (nonlinear signals), indicating successful spatial averaging correction. Spatiotemporal deconvolution resulted in significant improvement in accuracy even when the hydrophone geometrical sensitive element diameter exceeded the beam FWHM. Responsible reporting of hydrophone-based pressure measurements should always acknowledge spatial averaging considerations.
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12
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Cabrelli LC, Uliana JH, da Cruz Junior LB, Bachmann L, Carneiro AAO, Pavan TZ. Glycerol-in-SEBS gel as a material to manufacture stable wall-less vascular phantom for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2021; 7. [PMID: 34496358 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ac24d6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymer-in-mineral oil gel is an appropriate tissue-mimicking material to manufacture stable phantoms for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. Glycerol dispersion has been proposed to further tune the acoustic properties and to incorporate hydrophilic additives into SEBS gel. However, this type of material has not been investigated to produce wall-less vascular flow phantom for these imaging modalities. In this paper, the development of a wall-less vascular phantom for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging is reported. Mixtures of glycerol/TiO2-in-SEBS gel samples were manufactured at different proportions of glycerol (10%, 15%, and 20%) and TiO2(0% to 0.5%) to characterize their optical and acoustic properties. Optical absorption in the 500-950 nm range was independent of the amount of glycerol and TiO2, while optical scattering increased linearly with the concentration of TiO2. Acoustic attenuation and speed of sound were not influenced by the presence of TiO2. The sample manufactured using weight percentages of 10% SEBS, 15% glycerol, and 0.2% TiO2was selected to make the vascular phantom. The phantom proved to be stable during the pulsatile blood-mimicking fluid (BMF) flow, without any observed damage to its structure or leaks. Ultrasound color Doppler images showed a typical laminar flow, while the B-mode images showed a homogeneous speckled pattern due to the presence of the glycerol droplets in the gel. The photoacoustic images of the phantom showed a well-defined signal coming from the surface of the phantom and from the vessels where BMF was flowing. The Spearman's correlations between the photoacoustic and tabulated spectra calculated from the regions containing BMF, in this case a mixture of salt solutions (NiCl2and CuSO4), were higher than 0.95. Our results demonstrated that glycerol-in-SEBS gel was an adequate material to make a stable vascular flow phantom for ultrasound photoacoustic imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana C Cabrelli
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Joao H Uliana
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Luciano Bachmann
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Antonio A O Carneiro
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Theo Z Pavan
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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13
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Cloutier G, Destrempes F, Yu F, Tang A. Quantitative ultrasound imaging of soft biological tissues: a primer for radiologists and medical physicists. Insights Imaging 2021; 12:127. [PMID: 34499249 PMCID: PMC8429541 DOI: 10.1186/s13244-021-01071-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) aims at quantifying interactions between ultrasound and biological tissues. QUS techniques extract fundamental physical properties of tissues based on interactions between ultrasound waves and tissue microstructure. These techniques provide quantitative information on sub-resolution properties that are not visible on grayscale (B-mode) imaging. Quantitative data may be represented either as a global measurement or as parametric maps overlaid on B-mode images. Recently, major ultrasound manufacturers have released speed of sound, attenuation, and backscatter packages for tissue characterization and imaging. Established and emerging clinical applications are currently limited and include liver fibrosis staging, liver steatosis grading, and breast cancer characterization. On the other hand, most biological tissues have been studied using experimental QUS methods, and quantitative datasets are available in the literature. This educational review addresses the general topic of biological soft tissue characterization using QUS, with a focus on disseminating technical concepts for clinicians and specialized QUS materials for medical physicists. Advanced but simplified technical descriptions are also provided in separate subsections identified as such. To understand QUS methods, this article reviews types of ultrasound waves, basic concepts of ultrasound wave propagation, ultrasound image formation, point spread function, constructive and destructive wave interferences, radiofrequency data processing, and a summary of different imaging modes. For each major QUS technique, topics include: concept, illustrations, clinical examples, pitfalls, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Cloutier
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), 900 St-Denis, Montréal, Québec, H2X 0A9, Canada.
- Department of Radiology, Radio-oncology, and Nuclear Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| | - François Destrempes
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), 900 St-Denis, Montréal, Québec, H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - François Yu
- Department of Radiology, Radio-oncology, and Nuclear Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Microbubble Theranostics Laboratory, CRCHUM, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - An Tang
- Department of Radiology, Radio-oncology, and Nuclear Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Radiology, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Laboratory of Medical Image Analysis, Montréal, CRCHUM, Canada
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14
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Ultrasound-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening Improves Whole Brain Gene Delivery in Mice. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13081245. [PMID: 34452206 PMCID: PMC8399273 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13081245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy represents a powerful therapeutic tool to treat diseased tissues and provide a durable and effective correction. The central nervous system (CNS) is the target of many gene therapy protocols, but its high complexity makes it one of the most difficult organs to reach, in part due to the blood-brain barrier that protects it from external threats. Focused ultrasound (FUS) coupled with microbubbles appears as a technological breakthrough to deliver therapeutic agents into the CNS. While most studies focus on a specific targeted area of the brain, the present work proposes to permeabilize the entire brain for gene therapy in several pathologies. Our results show that, after i.v. administration and FUS sonication in a raster scan manner, a self-complementary AAV9-CMV-GFP vector strongly and safely infected the whole brain of mice. An increase in vector DNA (19.8 times), GFP mRNA (16.4 times), and GFP protein levels (17.4 times) was measured in whole brain extracts of FUS-treated GFP injected mice compared to non-FUS GFP injected mice. In addition to this increase in GFP levels, on average, a 7.3-fold increase of infected cells in the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum was observed. No side effects were detected in the brain of treated mice. The combining of FUS and AAV-based gene delivery represents a significant improvement in the treatment of neurological genetic diseases.
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15
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Makūnaitė M, Jurkonis R, Lukoševičius A, Baranauskas M. Main Uncertainties in the RF Ultrasound Scanning Simulation of the Standard Ultrasound Phantoms. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21134420. [PMID: 34203320 PMCID: PMC8271890 DOI: 10.3390/s21134420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ultrasound echoscopy technologies are continuously evolving towards new modalities including quantitative parameter imaging, elastography, 3D scanning, and others. The development and analysis of new methods and algorithms require an adequate digital simulation of radiofrequency (RF) signal transformations. The purpose of this paper is the quantitative evaluation of RF signal simulation uncertainties in resolution and contrast reproduction with the model of a phased array transducer. The method is based on three types of standard physical phantoms. Digital 3D models of those phantoms are composed of point scatterers representing the weak backscattering of the background material and stronger backscattering from inclusions. The simulation results of echoscopy with sector scanning transducer by Field II software are compared with the RF output of the Ultrasonix scanner after scanning standard phantoms with 2.5 MHz phased array. The quantitative comparison of axial, lateral, and elevation resolutions have shown uncertainties from 9 to 22% correspondingly. The echoscopy simulation with two densities of scatterers is compared with contrast phantom imaging on the backscattered RF signals and B-scan reconstructed image, showing that the main sources of uncertainties limiting the echoscopy RF signal simulation adequacy are an insufficient knowledge of the scanner and phantom’s parameters. The attempt made for the quantitative evaluation of simulation uncertainties shows both problems and the potential of echoscopy simulation in imaging technology developments. The analysis presented could be interesting for researchers developing quantitative ultrasound imaging and elastography technologies looking for simulated raw RF signals comparable to those obtained from real ultrasonic scanning.
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Jafarpisheh N, Hall TJ, Rivaz H, Rosado-Mendez IM. Analytic Global Regularized Backscatter Quantitative Ultrasound. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2021; 68:1605-1617. [PMID: 33284753 PMCID: PMC8214362 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2020.3042942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Although a variety of techniques have been developed to reduce the appearance of B-mode speckle, quantitative ultrasound (QUS) aims at extracting the hidden properties of the tissue. Herein, we propose two novel techniques to accurately and precisely estimate two important QUS parameters, namely, the average attenuation coefficient and the backscatter coefficient. Both the techniques optimize a cost function that incorporates data and continuity constraint terms, which we call AnaLytical Global rEgularized BackscatteR quAntitative ultrasound (ALGEBRA). We propose two versions of ALGEBRA, namely, 1-D- and 2-D-ALGEBRA. In 1-D-ALGEBRA, the regularized cost function is formulated in the axial direction, and the QUS parameters are calculated for one line of radio frequency (RF) echo data. In 2-D-ALGEBRA, the regularized cost function is formulated for the entire image, and the QUS parameters throughout the image are estimated simultaneously. This simultaneous optimization allows 2-D-ALGEBRA to "see" all the data before estimating the QUS parameters. In both the methods, we efficiently optimize the cost functions by casting it as a sparse linear system of equations. As a result of this efficient optimization, 1-D-ALGEBRA and 2-D-ALGEBRA are, respectively, 600 and 300 times faster than optimization using the dynamic programming (DP) method previously proposed by our group. In addition, the proposed technique has fewer input parameters that require manual tuning. Our results demonstrate that the proposed ALGEBRA methods substantially outperform least-square and DP methods in estimating the QUS parameters in phantom experiments.
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17
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Nikolaev DA, Tsysar SA, Khokhlova VA, Kreider W, Sapozhnikov OA. Holographic extraction of plane waves from an ultrasound beam for acoustic characterization of an absorbing layer of finite dimensions. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 149:386. [PMID: 33514150 PMCID: PMC7816771 DOI: 10.1121/10.0003212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
For the acoustic characterization of materials, a method is proposed for interpreting experiments with finite-sized transducers and test samples in terms of the idealized situation in which plane waves are transmitted through an infinite plane-parallel layer. The method uses acoustic holography, which experimentally provides complete knowledge of the wave field by recording pressure waveforms at points on a surface intersected by the acoustic beam. The measured hologram makes it possible to calculate the angular spectrum of the beam to decompose the field into a superposition of plane waves propagating in different directions. Because these waves cancel one another outside the beam, the idealized geometry of an infinite layer can be represented by a sample of finite size if its lateral dimensions exceed the width of the acoustic beam. The proposed method relies on holograms that represent the acoustic beam with and without the test sample in the transmission path. The method is described theoretically, and its capabilities are demonstrated experimentally for silicone rubber samples by measuring their frequency-dependent phase velocities and absorption coefficients in the megahertz frequency range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry A Nikolaev
- Physics Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Sergey A Tsysar
- Physics Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Vera A Khokhlova
- Physics Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Wayne Kreider
- Center for Industrial and Medical Ultrasound, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, 1013 Northeast 40th Street, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
| | - Oleg A Sapozhnikov
- Physics Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia
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18
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Wear KA, Shah A, Baker C. Correction for Hydrophone Spatial Averaging Artifacts for Circular Sources. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2020; 67:2674-2691. [PMID: 32746206 PMCID: PMC8325168 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2020.3007808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
This article reports an investigation of an inverse-filter method to correct for experimental underestimation of pressure due to spatial averaging across a hydrophone sensitive element. The spatial averaging filter (SAF) depends on hydrophone type (membrane, needle, or fiber-optic), hydrophone geometrical sensitive element diameter, transducer driving frequency, and transducer F number (ratio of focal length to diameter). The absolute difference between theoretical and experimental SAFs for 25 transducer/hydrophone pairs was 7% ± 3% (mean ± standard deviation). Empirical formulas based on SAFs are provided to enable researchers to easily correct for hydrophone spatial averaging errors in peak compressional pressure ( pc ), peak rarefactional pressure ( pr ), and pulse intensity integral. The empirical formulas show, for example, that if a 3-MHz, F /2 transducer is driven to moderate nonlinear distortion and measured at the focal point with a 500- [Formula: see text] membrane hydrophone, then spatial averaging errors are approximately 16% ( pc ), 12% ( pr ), and 24% (pulse intensity integral). The formulas are based on circular transducers but also provide plausible upper bounds for spatial averaging errors for transducers with rectangular-transmit apertures, such as linear and phased arrays.
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19
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Pavan TZ, Evertsson M. Oil-Based Gel Phantoms and the Speed of Sound. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:3170-3171. [PMID: 32782089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Theo Z Pavan
- Department of Physics, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Maria Evertsson
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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20
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Sjöstrand S, Meirza B, Grassi L, Svensson I, Camargo LC, Pavan TZ, Evertsson M. Tuning Viscoelasticity with Minor Changes in Speed of Sound in an Ultrasound Phantom Material. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:2070-2078. [PMID: 32423572 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The acoustic properties of ultrasound phantom materials have always been important, but with new applications interrogating tissue mechanical properties, viscoelasticity has also become an interesting feature to consider. Along with Young's modulus, the viscous component of tissue is affected by certain diseases and can therefore be used as a biomarker. Furthermore, viscoelasticity varies between tissue types and individuals, and therefore it would be useful with a phantom material that reflects this physiological range. Here we describe a gel for ultrasound imaging with a range of mechanical properties given by mixing different ratios of two oil-based gels, clear ballistic and styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS). The gels were mixed in five different proportions, ranging from 0-100% of either gel. For each of the gel compositions, we measured time of flight to determine speed of sound, narrowband ultrasound transmission for attenuation, stress-relaxation for viscoelasticity, mass and volume. Analysis of the stress-relaxation data using the generalized Maxwell model suggests that the material can be described by five parameters, E0, E1, E2, η1 and η2, and that each of these parameters decreases as more SEBS is incorporated into the mixed material. Instantaneous Young's modulus (the sum of E0, E1 and E2 in our model) ranges between 49 and 117 kPa for the different ratios, similar to values reported for cancerous tissue. Despite the large span of obtainable mechanical properties, speed of sound is relatively constant regardless of composition, with mean value estimates (± 95 % CI) between 1438 ± 9 and 1455 ± 3 m/s for pure and mixed gels. This was attributed to a variation in density and Poisson's ratio, following from the relation linking them to speed of sound and elasticity. Furthermore, both speed of sound and attenuation were within a suitable range for ultrasound phantoms. Combining this ballistic gel with SEBS copolymer in oil allows for control of mechanical properties, both elastic and viscous as evaluated by the material model. Furthermore, it does so without compromising ease of use, longevity and safety of the pre-made gel.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Theo Z Pavan
- Department of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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21
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Balica A, Kohut A, Tsai TJ, Groszmann YS, Brandt JS. A Bibliometric Analysis of Citation Classics in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2020; 39:1289-1297. [PMID: 31944354 DOI: 10.1002/jum.15220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A bibliometric analysis of articles in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine (JUM) identified the journals' most impactful articles. METHODS A bibliometric analysis of citation classics that were published in the JUM from its inception in 1982 to 2019 was performed. All citation classics, defined as articles cited 100 or more times, were evaluated for the number of citations, citations per year, publication year, subspecialty, design, and country of origin. Characteristics were compared before and after 1998 by the Mann-Whitney test for unpaired data and 2-sample z tests of sample proportions. The Kruskal-Wallis test for nonparametric continuous data was used to compare the median number of citations per year by decade of publication. RESULTS A total of 7868 articles were published in the JUM between 1982 and 2019; 54 (0.7%) were citation classics. The median citation classics year of publication was 1998 (interquartile range [IQR], 1991-2003). Most citation classics originated from the United States (36 of 54 [66.7%]), were observational (47 of 54 [87%]), and were related to obstetric and gynecologic topics (16 of 54 [29.6%]). Citation classics after 1998 received significantly more citations per year (9.3 versus 4.7; P < .001), with no other differences noted. The median number of citations per year increased for each decade, with medians of 4 citations (IQR, 3.6-4.7) in 1982 to 1991 and 11.2 citations (IQR, 9-13.9) in 2002 to 2012 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS This list provides insight into the most influential articles that were published in the JUM. Most citation classics were observational, were from the United States, and covered obstetric and gynecologic topics. Citation classics received more citations per year after 1998.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Balica
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Adrian Kohut
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Te-Jung Tsai
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yvette S Groszmann
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Diagnostic Ultrasound Associates, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Justin S Brandt
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
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22
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Gesnik M, Bhatt M, Roy Cardinal MH, Destrempes F, Allard L, Nguyen BN, Alquier T, Giroux JF, Tang A, Cloutier G. In vivo Ultrafast Quantitative Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography Imaging on Farm-Raised Duck Livers during Force Feeding. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:1715-1726. [PMID: 32381381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Shear wave elastography (speed and dispersion), local attenuation coefficient slope and homodyned-K parametric imaging were used for liver steatosis grading. These ultrasound biomarkers rely on physical interactions between shear and compression waves with tissues at both macroscopic and microscopic scales. These techniques were applied in a context not yet studied with ultrasound imaging, that is, monitoring steatosis of force-fed duck livers from pre-force-fed to foie gras stages. Each estimated feature presented a statistically significant trend along the feeding process (p values <10-3). However, whereas a monotonic increase in the shear wave speed was observed along the process, most quantitative ultrasound features exhibited an absolute maximum value halfway through the process. As the liver fat fraction in foie gras is much higher than that seen clinically, we hypothesized that a change in the ultrasound scattering regime is encountered for high-fat fractions, and consequently, care has to be taken when applying ultrasound biomarkers to grading of severe states of steatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Gesnik
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Manish Bhatt
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Hélène Roy Cardinal
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - François Destrempes
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Louise Allard
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bich N Nguyen
- Service of Pathology, University of Montreal Hospital (CHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Thierry Alquier
- CRCHUM and Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - An Tang
- Service of Radiology, University of Montreal Hospital (CHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Laboratory of Medical Image Analysis, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Guy Cloutier
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC, Canada; Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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23
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Steffel CN, Salamat S, Cook TD, Wilbrand SM, Dempsey RJ, Mitchell CC, Varghese T. Attenuation Coefficient Parameter Computations for Tissue Composition Assessment of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque in Vivo. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:1513-1532. [PMID: 32291105 PMCID: PMC7216316 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative ultrasound has been used to assess carotid plaque tissue composition. Here, we compute the attenuation coefficient (AC) in vivo with the optimum power spectral shift estimator (OPSSE) and reference phantom method (RPM), extract AC parameters and form parametric maps. Differences between OPSSE and RPM AC parameters are computed. Relationships between AC parameters, surgical scores and histopathology assessments are examined. Kendall's τ correlations between OPSSE AC and surgical scores are significant, including those between cholesterol and Standard Deviation (adjusted p = 0.038); thrombus and Minimum (adjusted p = 0.002), Maximum (adjusted p = 0.021) and Standard Deviation (adjusted p = 0.001); ulceration and Average (adjusted p = 0.033), Median (unadjusted p = 0.013), Maximum (unadjusted p = 0.039) and Mode (adjusted p = 0.009). The strongest correlations with histopathology are percentage cholesterol and Median OPSSE (unadjusted p = 0.007); percentage hemorrhage and Minimum OPSSE (adjusted p < 0.001); hemosiderin score and Median OPSSE (adjusted p = 0.010); and percentage calcium and Percentage Non-physical RPM Pixels (unadjusted p = 0.014). Kruskal-Wallis H and Dunn's post hoc tests have the ability to distinguish between groups (p < 0.05). Results suggest AC parameters may assist in vivo evaluation of carotid plaque vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine N Steffel
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
| | - Shahriar Salamat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Thomas D Cook
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Stephanie M Wilbrand
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Carol C Mitchell
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Tomy Varghese
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Cortela GA, Negreira CA, Pereira WCA. Durability study of a gellan gum-based tissue-mimicking phantom for ultrasonic thermal therapy. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 147:1531. [PMID: 32237853 DOI: 10.1121/10.0000813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Stability and duration of ultrasonic phantoms are still subjects of research. This work presents a tissue-mimicking material (TMM) to evaluate high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound (HITU) devices, composed of gellan gum (matrix), microparticles (scatterers), and chemicals. The ultrasonic velocity and attenuation coefficient were characterized as a function of temperature (range 20 °C-85 °C). The nonlinear parameter B/A was determined by the finite amplitude insertion substitution (FAIS) method, and the shear modulus was determined by a transient elastography technique. The thermal conductivity and specific heat were determined by the line source method. The attenuation was stable for 60 days, and in an almost linear frequency dependence (0.51f0.96 dB cm-1), at 20 °C (1-10 MHz). All other evaluated physical parameters are also close to typical soft tissue values. Longitudinal ultrasonic velocities were between 1.49 and 1.75 mm μs-1, the B/A parameter was 7.8 at 30 °C, and Young's modulus was 23.4 kPa. The thermal conductivity and specific heat values were 0.7 W(m K)-1 and 4.7 kJ(kg K)-1, respectively. Consistent temperature increases and thermal doses occurred under identical HITU exposures. Low cost, longevity, thermal stability, and thermal repeatability make TMM an excellent material for ultrasonic thermal applications. The TMM developed has the potential to assess the efficacy of hyperthermia devices and could be used to adjust the ultrasonic emission of HITU devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo A Cortela
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la Republica Montevideo, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos A Negreira
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la Republica Montevideo, Iguá 4225, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Wagner C A Pereira
- Biomedical Engineering Program-COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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25
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Eranki A, Mikhail AS, Negussie AH, Katti PS, Wood BJ, Partanen A. Tissue-mimicking thermochromic phantom for characterization of HIFU devices and applications. Int J Hyperthermia 2019; 36:518-529. [PMID: 31046513 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2019.1605458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Tissue-mimicking phantoms (TMPs) are synthetic materials designed to replicate properties of biological tissues. There is a need to quantify temperature changes following ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU). This work describes development, characterization and evaluation of tissue-mimicking thermochromic phantom (TMTCP) for direct visualization and quantification of HIFU heating. The objectives were to (1) develop an MR-imageable, HIFU-compatible TMTCP that reports absolute temperatures, (2) characterize TMTCP physical properties and (3) examine TMTCP color change after HIFU. METHODS AND MATERIALS A TMTCP was prepared to contain thermochromic ink, silicon dioxide and bovine serum albumin (BSA) and its properties were quantified. A clinical MRI-guided and a preclinical US-guided HIFU system were used to perform sonications in TMTCP. MRI thermometry was performed during HIFU, followed by T2-weighted MRI post-HIFU. Locations of color and signal intensity change were compared to the sonication plan and to MRI temperature maps. RESULTS TMTCP properties were comparable to those in human soft tissues. Upon heating, the TMTCP exhibited an incremental but permanent color change for temperatures between 45 and 70 °C. For HIFU sonications the TMTCP revealed spatially sharp regions of color change at the target locations, correlating with MRI thermometry and hypointense regions on T2-weighted MRI. TMTCP-based assessment of various HIFU applications was also demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS We developed a novel MR-imageable and HIFU-compatible TMTCP to characterize HIFU heating without MRI or thermocouples. The HIFU-optimized TMTCP reports absolute temperatures and ablation zone geometry with high spatial resolution. Consequently, the TMTCP can be used to evaluate HIFU heating and may provide an in vitro tool for peak temperature assessment, and reduce preclinical in vivo requirements for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash Eranki
- a Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences , Clinical Center and National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA.,b Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation , Children's National Medical Center , Washington , DC , USA
| | - Andrew S Mikhail
- a Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences , Clinical Center and National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Ayele H Negussie
- a Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences , Clinical Center and National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Prateek S Katti
- a Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences , Clinical Center and National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA.,c Institute of Biomedical Engineering , University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Bradford J Wood
- a Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences , Clinical Center and National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Ari Partanen
- a Center for Interventional Oncology, Radiology and Imaging Sciences , Clinical Center and National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA
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26
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Validation of differences in backscatter coefficients among four ultrasound scanners with different beamforming methods. J Med Ultrason (2001) 2019; 47:35-46. [PMID: 31679096 DOI: 10.1007/s10396-019-00984-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The backscatter coefficient (BSC) indicates the absolute scatterer property of a material, independently of clinicians and system settings. Our study verified that the BSC differed among the scanners, transducers, and beamforming methods used for quantitative ultrasound analyses of biological tissues. METHODS Measurements were performed on four tissue-mimicking homogeneous phantoms containing spherical scatterers with mean diameters of 20 and 30 µm prepared at concentrations of 0.5 and 2.0 wt%, respectively. The BSCs in the different systems were compared using ultrasound scanners with two single-element transducers and five linear high- or low-frequency probes. The beamforming methods were line-by-line formation using focused imaging (FI) and parallel beam formation using plane wave imaging (PWI). The BSC of each system was calculated by the reference phantom method. The mean deviation from the theoretical BSC computed by the Faran model was analyzed as the benchmark validation of the calculated BSC. RESULTS The BSCs calculated in systems with different properties and beamforming methods well concurred with the theoretical BSC. The mean deviation was below ± 2.8 dB on average, and within the approximate standard deviation (± 2.2 dB at most) in all cases. These variations agreed with a previous study in which the largest error among four different scanners with FI beamforming was 3.5 dB. CONCLUSION The BSC in PWI was equivalent to those in the other systems and to those of FI beamforming. This result indicates the possibility of ultra-high frame-rate BSC analysis using PWI.
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27
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Oliver LA, Oliver JA, Ohanyan S, Park W, Benelyahoo A, Vadivelu N. Ultrasound for peripheral and arterial access. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2019; 33:523-537. [PMID: 31791568 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpa.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral venous access is perhaps the most commonly performed procedure in hospitals, urgent care, or surgical centers across the country. The ability to obtain peripheral intravenous (IV) access, and in a timely manner, is arguably one of the most important skill sets to be mastered by health care professionals. While skill and experience play a role in successful and timely vascular access, numerous patient factors such as obesity, diabetes, IV drug use, and chronic kidney disease may pose unique challenges to even the most skilled health care professional. In patients with difficult access, there are often multiple attempts, which can be both time consuming for the provider and painful for the patients. Direct visualization of blood vessels using ultrasonography has an advantage over the standard landmark technique and can improve the success rate of peripheral IV or arterial line placement in this patient population. Given the success of ultrasound guidance with access placement, it is imperative that all health care profesionals become proficient with this technique. The aim of this review article is to provide concise and practical information on the basics of ultrasound and its application to obtain peripheral venous and arterial access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori-Ann Oliver
- Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - Jodi-Ann Oliver
- Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - Sargis Ohanyan
- Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - William Park
- Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - Aharon Benelyahoo
- Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - Nalini Vadivelu
- Department of Anesthesiology, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States.
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28
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Lee FF, He Q, Gao J, Pan A, Sun S, Liang X, Luo J. Evaluating HIFU-mediated local drug release using thermal strain imaging: Phantom and preliminary in-vivo studies. Med Phys 2019; 46:3864-3876. [PMID: 31314917 DOI: 10.1002/mp.13719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)-mediated drug release becomes a promising therapeutic technique for treatment of cancer, which has merits of deep penetration, noninvasive approach and nonionizing radiation. However, conventional thermocouple-based approach for treatment monitoring would encounter big challenges such as the viscous heating artifact and difficulty in monitoring in the deep region. In this study, we develop an effective method based on thermal strain imaging (TSI) for the evaluation of HIFU-mediated drug release. METHODS Both phantom experiments and preliminary animal experiments were performed to investigate the feasibility of the proposed approach. Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded cerasomes (HIFU and temperature-sensitive cerasomes, HTSCs) were prepared. In the phantom experiments, the HTSC solution is contained inside a cylindrical chamber within a tissue-mimicking phantom. In the animal experiments, the HTSCs are intravenously injected into tumor-bearing mice. An HIFU transducer is used to trigger DOX release from the HTSCs within the phantom or mice, and TSI is performed during HIFU heating. In the phantom experiments, the accuracy of temperature estimation using TSI is validated by measuring with a thermocouple. In animal experiments, the spatial consistency between the distribution of DOX released within the tumor and the location of the heating region estimated by TSI is validated using a spectrofluorophotometer. RESULTS In the phantom experiments, the HTSCs show a burst release of DOX when the temperature of the HTSC solution estimated by TSI reaches about 42°C, which is in agreement with the condition for drug release from the HTSCs. The temperature estimation using TSI has high accuracy with error below 2.5%. In animal experiments, fluorescence imaging of the tumor validates that the heating region of HIFU could be localized by the low-strain region of TSI. CONCLUSION The present framework demonstrates a reliable and effective solution to the evaluation of HIFU-mediated local drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Feng Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qiong He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Anni Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Suhui Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xiaolong Liang
- Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jianwen Luo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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29
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Nasief HG, Rosado-Mendez IM, Zagzebski JA, Hall TJ. A Quantitative Ultrasound-Based Multi-Parameter Classifier for Breast Masses. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2019; 45:1603-1616. [PMID: 31031035 PMCID: PMC7230148 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript reports preliminary results obtained by combining estimates of two or three (among seven) quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters in a model-free, multi-parameter classifier to differentiate breast carcinomas from fibroadenomas (the most common benign solid tumor). Forty-three patients scheduled for core biopsy of a suspicious breast mass were recruited. Radiofrequency echo signal data were acquired using clinical breast ultrasound systems equipped with linear array transducers. The reference phantom method was used to obtain system-independent estimates of the specific attenuation (ATT), the average backscatter coefficients, the effective scatterer diameter (ESD) and an effective scatterer diameter heterogeneity index (ESDHI) over regions of interest within each mass. In addition, the envelope amplitude signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the Nakagami shape parameter, m, and the maximum collapsed average (maxCA) of the generalized spectrum were also computed. Classification was performed using the minimum Mahalanobis distance to the centroids of the training classes and tested against biopsy results. Classification performance was evaluated with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The best performance with a two-parameter classifier used the ESD and ESDHI and resulted in an area under the ROC curve of 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95-1.00). Classification performance improved with three parameters (ATT, ESD and ESDHI) yielding an area under the ROC curve of 0.999 (0.995-1.000). These results suggest that system-independent QUS parameters, when combined in a model-free classifier, are a promising tool to characterize breast tumors. A larger study is needed to further test this idea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidy G Nasief
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ivan M Rosado-Mendez
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Instituto de Fisica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - James A Zagzebski
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy J Hall
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
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30
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Guerrero QW, Fan L, Brunke S, Milkowski A, Rosado-Mendez IM, Hall TJ. Power Spectrum Consistency among Systems and Transducers. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2018; 44:2358-2370. [PMID: 30093341 PMCID: PMC6511990 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Use of the reference phantom method for computing acoustic attenuation and backscatter is widespread. However, clinical application of these methods has been limited by the need to acquire reference phantom data. We determined that the data acquired from 11 transducers of the same model and five clinical ultrasound systems of the same model produce equivalent estimates of reference phantom power spectra. We describe that the contribution to power spectral density variance among systems and transducers equals that from speckle variance with 59 uncorrelated echo signals. Thus, when the number of uncorrelated lines of data is small, speckle variance will dominate the power spectral density estimate variance introduced by different systems and transducers. These results suggest that, at least for this particular transducer and imaging system combination, one set of reference phantom calibration data is highly representative of the average among equivalent transducers and systems that are in good working order.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinton W Guerrero
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Liexiang Fan
- Siemens Ultrasound Division, Issaquah, Washington, USA
| | - Shelby Brunke
- Siemens Ultrasound Division, Issaquah, Washington, USA
| | | | - Ivan M Rosado-Mendez
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Timothy J Hall
- Medical Physics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
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31
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Han A, Andre MP, Deiranieh L, Housman E, Erdman JW, Loomba R, Sirlin CB, O’Brien WD. Repeatability and Reproducibility of the Ultrasonic Attenuation Coefficient and Backscatter Coefficient Measured in the Right Lobe of the Liver in Adults With Known or Suspected Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2018; 37:1913-1927. [PMID: 29359454 PMCID: PMC6056350 DOI: 10.1002/jum.14537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient (AC) and backscatter coefficient (BSC) measured in the livers of adults with known or suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS The Institutional Review Board approved this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant prospective study; informed consent was obtained. Forty-one research participants with known or suspected NAFLD were recruited and underwent same-day ultrasound examinations of the right liver lobe with a clinical scanner by a clinical sonographer. Each participant underwent 2 scanning trials, with participant repositioning between trials. Two transducers were used in each trial. For each transducer, machine settings were optimized by the sonographer but then kept constant while 3 data acquisitions were obtained from the liver without participant repositioning and then from an external calibrated phantom. Raw RF echo data were recorded. The AC and BSC were measured within 2.6 to 3.0 MHz from a user-defined hepatic field of interest from each acquisition. The repeatability and reproducibility were analyzed by random-effects models. RESULTS The mean AC and log-transformed BSC (logBSC) were 0.94 dB/cm-MHz and -27.0 dB, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.88 to 0.94 for the AC and 0.87 to 0.95 for the logBSC acquired without participant repositioning. For between-trial repeated scans with participant repositioning, the intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.80 to 0.84 for the AC and 0.69 to 0.82 for the logBSC after averaging results from 3 within-trial images. The variability introduced by the transducer was less than the repeatability error. CONCLUSIONS Hepatic AC and BSC measures using a reference phantom technique on a clinical scanner are repeatable and reproducible between transducers in adults with known or suspected NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiguo Han
- Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Michael P. Andre
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., San Diego, CA 92093, and the San Diego VA Healthcare System, San Diego
| | - Lisa Deiranieh
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., San Diego, CA 92093, and the San Diego VA Healthcare System, San Diego
| | - Elise Housman
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., San Diego, CA 92093, and the San Diego VA Healthcare System, San Diego
| | - John W. Erdman
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 905 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Claude B. Sirlin
- Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, 9452 Medical Center Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - William D. O’Brien
- Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
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32
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Maruvada S, Liu Y, Gammell P, Wear K. Broadband characterization of plastic and high intensity therapeutic ultrasound phantoms using time delay spectrometry-With validation using Kramers-Kronig relations. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 143:3365. [PMID: 29960483 PMCID: PMC6095459 DOI: 10.1121/1.5040482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Time delay spectrometry (TDS) is extended for broadband characterization of plastics (low-density polyethylene, LDPE) and tissue-mimicking material (TMM). The results suggest that TDS and the conventional broadband pulse method give comparable measurements for frequency-dependent attenuation coefficient and phase velocity near the center frequency, where signal-to-noise ratio is high. However, TDS measurements show enhanced bandwidth for attenuation coefficient of 30%-40% (LDPE) and 89%-100% (TMM) and for phase velocity of 43% (LDPE) and 36% (TMM) for a single transmitter/receiver pair. In addition, TDS provides measurements of dispersion that are consistent with predictions based on the Kramers-Kronig relations to within 5 m/s over the band from 2 to 12 MHz in LDPE and to within 1 m/s in TMM over the band from 0.5 to 29 MHz.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subha Maruvada
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, USA
| | - Yunbo Liu
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, USA
| | - Paul Gammell
- Gammell Applied Technologies, Exmore, Virginia 23350, USA
| | - Keith Wear
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, USA
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Cortela GA, Pereira WCA, Negreira CA. Ex vivo determined experimental correction factor for the ultrasonic source term in the bioheat equation. ULTRASONICS 2018; 82:72-78. [PMID: 28753417 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2017.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this work is to propose an effective absorption coefficient (αeffec) as an empirical correction factor in the source term of the bioheat equation. The temperature rise in biological tissue due to ultrasound insonification is produced by energy absorption. Usually, the ultrasonic absorption coefficient (αA) is used as a source term in the bioheat equation to quantify the temperature rise, and the effect of scattering is disregarded. The coefficient αeffec includes the scattering contribution as an additional absorption term and should allow us to make a better estimation of the thermal dose (TD), which is important for clinical applications. We simulated the bioheat equation with the source term considering αA or αeffec, and with heating provided by therapeutic ultrasound (1MHz, 2.0Wcm-2) for about 5.5min (temperature range 36-46°C). Experimental data were obtained in similar heating conditions for a bovine muscle tissue (ex vivo) and temperature curves were measured for depths 7, 30, 35, 40 and 45mm. The TD values from the experimental temperature curves at each depth were compared with the numerical solution of the bioheat equation with the classical and corrected source terms. The highest percentual difference between simulated and experimental TD was 42.5% when assuming the classical αA, and 8.7% for the corrected αeffec. The results show that the effective absorption coefficient is a feasible parameter to improve the classical bioheat transfer model, especially for depths larger than the mean free propagation path.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo A Cortela
- Laboratory of Ultrasound, Physics Institute, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Wagner C A Pereira
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Biomedical Engineering Program - COPPE, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Negreira
- Laboratory of Ultrasound, Physics Institute, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Chen AI, Balter ML, Chen MI, Gross D, Alam SK, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. Multilayered tissue mimicking skin and vessel phantoms with tunable mechanical, optical, and acoustic properties. Med Phys 2017; 43:3117-3131. [PMID: 27277058 DOI: 10.1118/1.4951729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This paper describes the design, fabrication, and characterization of multilayered tissue mimicking skin and vessel phantoms with tunable mechanical, optical, and acoustic properties. The phantoms comprise epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis skin layers, blood vessels, and blood mimicking fluid. Each tissue component may be individually tailored to a range of physiological and demographic conditions. METHODS The skin layers were constructed from varying concentrations of gelatin and agar. Synthetic melanin, India ink, absorbing dyes, and Intralipid were added to provide optical absorption and scattering in the skin layers. Bovine serum albumin was used to increase acoustic attenuation, and 40 μm diameter silica microspheres were used to induce acoustic backscatter. Phantom vessels consisting of thin-walled polydimethylsiloxane tubing were embedded at depths of 2-6 mm beneath the skin, and blood mimicking fluid was passed through the vessels. The phantoms were characterized through uniaxial compression and tension experiments, rheological frequency sweep studies, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and ultrasonic pulse-echo measurements. Results were then compared to in vivo and ex vivo literature data. RESULTS The elastic and dynamic shear behavior of the phantom skin layers and vessel wall closely approximated the behavior of porcine skin tissues and human vessels. Similarly, the optical properties of the phantom tissue components in the wavelength range of 400-1100 nm, as well as the acoustic properties in the frequency range of 2-9 MHz, were comparable to human tissue data. Normalized root mean square percent errors between the phantom results and the literature reference values ranged from 1.06% to 9.82%, which for many measurements were less than the sample variability. Finally, the mechanical and imaging characteristics of the phantoms were found to remain stable after 30 days of storage at 21 °C. CONCLUSIONS The phantoms described in this work simulate the mechanical, optical, and acoustic properties of human skin tissues, vessel tissue, and blood. In this way, the phantoms are uniquely suited to serve as test models for multimodal imaging techniques and image-guided interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin I Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - Max L Balter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - Melanie I Chen
- Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | - Daniel Gross
- Riverside Research Institute, Piscataway, New York, New York 10038
| | - Sheikh K Alam
- Center for Computational Biomedicine Imaging and Modeling, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
| | | | - Martin L Yarmush
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
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Cabrelli LC, Pelissari PIBGB, Deana AM, Carneiro AAO, Pavan TZ. Stable phantom materials for ultrasound and optical imaging. Phys Med Biol 2016; 62:432-447. [PMID: 27997374 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/62/2/432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Phantoms mimicking the specific properties of biological tissues are essential to fully characterize medical devices. Water-based materials are commonly used to manufacture phantoms for ultrasound and optical imaging techniques. However, these materials have disadvantages, such as easy degradation and low temporal stability. In this study, we propose an oil-based new tissue-mimicking material for ultrasound and optical imaging, with the advantage of presenting low temporal degradation. A styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymer in mineral oil samples was made varying the SEBS concentration between 5%-15%, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) between 0%-9%. Acoustic properties, such as the speed of sound and the attenuation coefficient, were obtained using frequencies ranging from 1-10 MHz, and were consistent with that of soft tissues. These properties were controlled varying SEBS and LDPE concentration. To characterize the optical properties of the samples, the diffuse reflectance and transmittance were measured. Scattering and absorption coefficients ranging from 400 nm-1200 nm were calculated for each compound. SEBS gels are a translucent material presenting low optical absorption and scattering coefficients in the visible region of the spectrum, but the presence of LDPE increased the turbidity. Adding LDPE increased the absorption and scattering of the phantom materials. Ultrasound and photoacoustic images of a heterogeneous phantom made of LDPE/SEBS containing a spherical inclusion were obtained. Annatto dye was added to the inclusion to enhance the optical absorbance. The results suggest that copolymer gels are promising for ultrasound and optical imaging, making them also potentially useful for photoacoustic imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana C Cabrelli
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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36
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Feasibility study of pulse compression technique to improve accuracy of ultrasonic temperature estimation. Biomed Eng Lett 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13534-016-0237-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Rouyer J, Cueva T, Yamamoto T, Portal A, Lavarello RJ. In Vivo Estimation of Attenuation and Backscatter Coefficients From Human Thyroids. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2016; 63:1253-1261. [PMID: 26955025 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2016.2532932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. However, currently, a large number of FNA biopsies result in negative or undetermined diagnosis, which suggests that better noninvasive tools are needed for the clinical management of thyroid cancer. Spectral-based quantitative ultrasound (QUS) characterizations may offer a better diagnostic management as previously demonstrated in mouse cancer models ex vivo. As a first step toward understanding the potential of QUS markers for thyroid disease management, this paper deals with the spectral-based QUS estimation of healthy human thyroids in vivo. Twenty volunteers were inspected by a trained radiologist using two ultrasonic imaging systems, which allowed them to acquire radio-frequency data spanning the 3-16-MHz frequency range. Estimates of attenuation coefficient slope (ACS) using the spectral logarithmic difference method had an average value of [Formula: see text]) with a standard deviation of [Formula: see text]. Estimates of backscatter coefficient (BSC) using the reference-phantom method had an average value of [Formula: see text] over the useful frequency range. The intersubject variability when estimating BSCs was less than 1.5 dB over the analysis frequency range. Further, the effectiveness of three scattering models (i.e., fluid sphere, Gaussian, and exponential form factors) when fitting the experimentally estimated BSCs was assessed. The exponential form factor was found to provide the best overall goodness of fit ( R2 = 0.917), followed by the Gaussian ( R2 = 0.807) and the fluid-sphere models ( R2 = 0.752). For all scattering models used in this study, average estimates of the effective scatterer diameter were between 44 and 56 μm. Overall, an excellent agreement in the estimated attenuation and BSCs with both scanners was exhibited.
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Ghoshal G, Kemmerer JP, Karunakaran C, Miller RJ, Oelze ML. Quantitative Ultrasound for Monitoring High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Treatment In Vivo. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2016; 63:1234-42. [PMID: 26780790 PMCID: PMC5551400 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2016.2517644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The success of any minimally invasive treatment procedure can be enhanced significantly if combined with a robust noninvasive imaging modality that can monitor therapy in real time. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) imaging has been widely investigated for monitoring various treatment responses such as chemotherapy, radiation, and thermal therapy. Previously, we demonstrated the feasibility of using spectral-based QUS parameters to monitor high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of in situ tumors in euthanized rats [Ultrasonic Imaging 36(4), 239-255, 2014]. In the present study, we examined the use of spectral-based QUS parameters to monitor HIFU treatment of in vivo rat mammary adenocarcinoma tumors (MAT) where significant tissue motion was present. HIFU was applied to tumors in rats using a single-element transducer. During the off part of the HIFU duty cycle, ultrasound backscatter was recorded from the tumors using a linear array co-aligned with the HIFU focus. A total of 10 rats were treated with HIFU in this study with an additional sham-treated rat. Spectral parameters from the backscatter coefficient, i.e., effective scatterer diameter (ESD) and effective acoustic concentration (EAC), were estimated. The changes of each parameter during treatment were compared with a temperature profile recorded by a fine-needle thermocouple inserted into the tumor a few millimeters behind the focus of the HIFU transducer. The mean ESD changed from 121 ±6 to [Formula: see text], and the EAC changed from 33 ±2 to [Formula: see text] during HIFU exposure as the temperature increased on average from 38.7 ±1.0 (°)C to 64.2 ±2.7 (°)C. The changes in ESD and EAC were linearly correlated with the changes in tissue temperature during the treatment. When HIFU was turned off, the ESD increased from 81 ±8 to [Formula: see text] and the EAC dropped from 46 ±3 to 36±2 dB/cm(3) as the temperature decreased from 64.2 ±2.7 (°)C to 45 ±2.7 (°)C. QUS was demonstrated in vivo to track temperature elevations caused by HIFU exposure.
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Pasternak MM, Wirtzfeld LA, Kolios MC, Czarnota GJ. High-frequency ultrasound analysis of post-mitotic arrest cell death. Oncoscience 2016; 3:109-21. [PMID: 27226984 PMCID: PMC4872649 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive monitoring of cancer cell death would permit rapid feedback on treatment response. One technique showing such promise is quantitative ultrasound. High-frequency ultrasound spectral radiofrequency analysis was used to study cell death in breast cancer cell samples. Quantitative ultrasound parameters, including attenuation, spectral slope, spectral 0-MHz-intercept, midband fit, and fitted parameters displayed significant changes with paclitaxel-induced cell death, corresponding to observations of morphological changes seen in histology and electron microscopy. In particular, a decrease in spectral slope from 0.24±0.07 dB/MHz to 0.04±0.09 dB/MHz occurred over 24 hours of treatment time and was identified as an ultrasound parameter capable of differentiating post-mitotic arrest cell death from classical apoptosis. The formation of condensed chromatin aggregates of 1 micron or greater in size increased the number of intracellular scatterers, consistent with a hypothesis that nuclear material is a primary source of ultrasound scattering in dying cells. It was demonstrated that the midband fit quantitatively correlated to cell death index, with a Pearson R-squared value of 0.99 at p<0.01. These results suggest that high-frequency ultrasound can not only qualitatively assess the degree of cancer cell death, but may be used to quantify the efficacy of chemotherapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurice M Pasternak
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | | | - Michael C Kolios
- Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Gregory J Czarnota
- Department of Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada; Departments of Medical Biophysics, and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
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40
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Oelze ML, Mamou J. Review of Quantitative Ultrasound: Envelope Statistics and Backscatter Coefficient Imaging and Contributions to Diagnostic Ultrasound. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2016; 63:336-51. [PMID: 26761606 PMCID: PMC5551399 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2015.2513958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Conventional medical imaging technologies, including ultrasound, have continued to improve over the years. For example, in oncology, medical imaging is characterized by high sensitivity, i.e., the ability to detect anomalous tissue features, but the ability to classify these tissue features from images often lacks specificity. As a result, a large number of biopsies of tissues with suspicious image findings are performed each year with a vast majority of these biopsies resulting in a negative finding. To improve specificity of cancer imaging, quantitative imaging techniques can play an important role. Conventional ultrasound B-mode imaging is mainly qualitative in nature. However, quantitative ultrasound (QUS) imaging can provide specific numbers related to tissue features that can increase the specificity of image findings leading to improvements in diagnostic ultrasound. QUS imaging can encompass a wide variety of techniques including spectral-based parameterization, elastography, shear wave imaging, flow estimation, and envelope statistics. Currently, spectral-based parameterization and envelope statistics are not available on most conventional clinical ultrasound machines. However, in recent years, QUS techniques involving spectral-based parameterization and envelope statistics have demonstrated success in many applications, providing additional diagnostic capabilities. Spectral-based techniques include the estimation of the backscatter coefficient (BSC), estimation of attenuation, and estimation of scatterer properties such as the correlation length associated with an effective scatterer diameter (ESD) and the effective acoustic concentration (EAC) of scatterers. Envelope statistics include the estimation of the number density of scatterers and quantification of coherent to incoherent signals produced from the tissue. Challenges for clinical application include correctly accounting for attenuation effects and transmission losses and implementation of QUS on clinical devices. Successful clinical and preclinical applications demonstrating the ability of QUS to improve medical diagnostics include characterization of the myocardium during the cardiac cycle, cancer detection, classification of solid tumors and lymph nodes, detection and quantification of fatty liver disease, and monitoring and assessment of therapy.
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41
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Yu X, Guo Y, Huang SM, Li ML, Lee WN. Beamforming effects on generalized Nakagami imaging. Phys Med Biol 2015; 60:7513-31. [DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/60/19/7513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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42
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Garcia-Duitama J, Chayer B, Han A, Garcia D, Oelze ML, Cloutier G. Experimental application of ultrafast imaging to spectral tissue characterization. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2015; 41:2506-2519. [PMID: 26119459 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Revised: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound ultrafast imaging (UI) allows acquisition of thousands of frames per second with a sustained image quality at any depth in the field of view. Therefore, it would be ideally suited to obtain good statistical sampling of fast-moving tissues using spectral-based techniques to derive the backscatter coefficient (BSC) and associated quantitative parameters. In UI, an image is formed by insonifying the medium with plane waves steered at different angles, beamforming them and compounding the resulting radiofrequency images. We aimed at validating, experimentally, the effect of these beamforming protocols on the BSC, under both isotropic and anisotropic conditions. Using UI techniques with a linear array transducer (5-14 MHz), we estimated the BSCs of tissue-mimicking phantoms and flowing porcine blood at depths up to 35 mm with a frame rate reaching 514 Hz. UI-based data were compared with those obtained using single-element transducers and conventional focusing imaging. Results revealed that UI compounded images can produce valid estimates of BSCs and effective scatterer size (errors less than 2.2 ± 0.8 and 0.26 ± 0.2 dB for blood and phantom experiments, respectively). This work also describes the use of pre-compounded UI images (i.e., steered images) to assess the angular dependency of circulating red blood cells. We have concluded that UI data sets can be used for BSC spectral tissue analysis and anisotropy characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Garcia-Duitama
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Boris Chayer
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Aiguo Han
- Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Damien Garcia
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Research Unit of Biomechanics and Imaging in Cardiology, CRCHUM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael L Oelze
- Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Guy Cloutier
- Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Arena CB, Novell A, Sheeran PS, Puett C, Moyer LC, Dayton PA. Dual-frequency acoustic droplet vaporization detection for medical imaging. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2015; 62:1623-33. [PMID: 26415125 PMCID: PMC5507352 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2014.006883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-filled perfluorocarbon droplets emit a unique acoustic signature when vaporized into gas-filled microbubbles using ultrasound. Here, we conducted a pilot study in a tissue-mimicking flow phantom to explore the spatial aspects of droplet vaporization and investigate the effects of applied pressure and droplet concentration on image contrast and axial and lateral resolution. Control microbubble contrast agents were used for comparison. A confocal dual-frequency transducer was used to transmit at 8 MHz and passively receive at 1 MHz. Droplet signals were of significantly higher energy than microbubble signals. This resulted in improved signal separation and high contrast-to-tissue ratios (CTR). Specifically, with a peak negative pressure (PNP) of 450 kPa applied at the focus, the CTR of B-mode images was 18.3 dB for droplets and -0.4 for microbubbles. The lateral resolution was dictated by the size of the droplet activation area, with lower pressures resulting in smaller activation areas and improved lateral resolution (0.67 mm at 450 kPa). The axial resolution in droplet images was dictated by the size of the initial droplet and was independent of the properties of the transmit pulse (3.86 mm at 450 kPa). In post-processing, time-domain averaging (TDA) improved droplet and microbubble signal separation at high pressures (640 kPa and 700 kPa). Taken together, these results indicate that it is possible to generate high-sensitivity, high-contrast images of vaporization events. In the future, this has the potential to be applied in combination with droplet-mediated therapy to track treatment outcomes or as a standalone diagnostic system to monitor the physical properties of the surrounding environment.
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Guzina BB, Dontsov EV, Urban MW, Fatemi M. The 'sixth sense' of ultrasound: probing nonlinear elasticity with acoustic radiation force. Phys Med Biol 2015; 60:3775-94. [PMID: 25905553 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/60/9/3775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Prompted by a recent finding that the magnitude of the acoustic radiation force (ARF) in isotropic tissue-like solids depends linearly on a particular third-order modulus of elasticity-hereon denoted by C, this study investigates the possibility of estimating C from the amplitude of the ARF-generated shear waves. The featured coefficient of nonlinear elasticity, which captures the incipient nonlinear interaction between the volumetric and deviatoric modes of deformation, has so far received only a limited attention in the context of soft tissues due to the fact that the latter are often approximated as (i) fluid-like when considering ultrasound waves, and (ii) incompressible under static deformations. On establishing the analytical and computational platform for the proposed sensing methodology, the study proceeds with applying the prototype technique toward estimating via ARF the third-order modulus C in a series of tissue-mimicking phantoms. To help validate the concept and its implementation, the germane third-order modulus is independently estimated in each phantom via an established technique known as acoustoelasticity. The C-estimates obtained respectively via acoustoelasticity and the new theory of ARF show a significant degree of consistency. The key features of the new sensing methodology are that: (a) it requires no external deformation of a material other than that produced by the ARF, and (b) it estimates the nonlinear C-modulus locally, over the focal region of an ultrasound beam-where the shear waves are being generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojan B Guzina
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geo- Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN 55455, USA
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Novell A, Arena CB, Kasoji S, Dayton PA. Optimization of multi-pulse sequences for nonlinear contrast agent imaging using a cMUT array. Phys Med Biol 2015; 60:3111-27. [PMID: 25803232 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/60/8/3111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) technology provides advantages such as wide frequency bandwidth, which can be exploited for contrast agent imaging. Nevertheless, the efficiency of traditional multi-pulse imaging schemes, such as pulse inversion (PI), remains limited because of the intrinsic nonlinear character of cMUTs. Recently, a new contrast imaging sequence, called bias voltage modulation sequence (BVM), has been specifically developed for cMUTs to suppress their unwanted nonlinear behavior. In this study, we propose to optimize contrast agent detection by combining the BVM sequence with PI and/or chirp reversal (CR). An aqueous dispersion of lipid encapsulated microbubbles was exposed to several combinations of multi-pulse imaging sequences. Approaches were evaluated in vitro using 9 inter-connected elements of a cMUT linear array (excitation frequency of 4 MHz; peak negative pressure of 100 kPa). For sequences using chirp excitations, a specific compression filter was designed to compress and extract several nonlinear components from the received microbubble responses. A satisfactory cancellation of the nonlinear signal from the source is achieved when BVM is combined with PI and CR. In comparison with PI and CR imaging modes alone, using sequences incorporating BVM increases the contrast-to-tissue ratio by 10.0 dB and 4.6 dB, respectively. Furthermore, the combination of BVM with CR and PI results in a significant increase of the contrast-to-noise ratio (+29 dB). This enhancement is attributed to the use of chirps as excitation signals and the improved preservation of several nonlinear components contained within the contrast agent response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Novell
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Cuccaro R, Musacchio C, Giuliano Albo PA, Troia A, Lago S. Acoustical characterization of polysaccharide polymers tissue-mimicking materials. ULTRASONICS 2015; 56:210-219. [PMID: 24794507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2014.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Tissue-mimicking phantoms play a crucial role in medical ultrasound research because they can simulate biological soft tissues. In last years, many types of polymeric tissues have been proposed and characterized from an acoustical and a thermal point of view, but, rarely, a deep discussion about the quality of the measurements, in terms of the uncertainty evaluation, has been reported. In this work, considering the necessity to develop laboratory standards for the measurement of ultrasonic exposure and dose quantities, a detailed description of the experimental apparatuses for the sound speed and the attenuation coefficient measurements is given, focusing the attention on the uncertainty evaluation both of the results and analysis algorithms. In particular, this algorithm reveals a novel empirical relation, fixing a limit to the energy content (therefore limits the number of cycles) of the three parts in which the authors have proposed to divide the acoustical signal. Furthermore, the realisation of multi-components phantoms, Agar and Phytagel based tissue-mimicking gels along with others long chain molecules (dextrane or polyvinyl alcohol) and scattering materials (silicon carbide and kieselguhr) are investigated. This paper reports accurate speed of sound and attenuation coefficient measurements. Speed of sound is measured by a pulse-echo technique in far-field condition, using an optical glass buffer rod; while attenuation coefficient is determined by an insertion technique, using demineralized water as reference material. The experimental sound speed results are subjected to an overall estimated relative uncertainty of about 1.5% and the attenuation coefficient uncertainty is less than 2.5%. For the development of laboratory standards, a detailed analysis of the measurement uncertainty is fundamental to make sample properties comparable. The authors believe this study could represent the right direction to make phantoms characterizations referable and traceable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rugiada Cuccaro
- INRiM - Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy.
| | - Chiara Musacchio
- INRiM - Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy.
| | - P Alberto Giuliano Albo
- INRiM - Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy.
| | - Adriano Troia
- INRiM - Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy.
| | - Simona Lago
- INRiM - Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy.
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Gyöngy M, Kollár S. Variation of ultrasound image lateral spectrum with assumed speed of sound and true scatterer density. ULTRASONICS 2015; 56:370-380. [PMID: 25260487 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2014.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 08/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
One method of estimating sound speed in diagnostic ultrasound imaging consists of choosing the speed of sound that generates the sharpest image, as evaluated by the lateral frequency spectrum of the squared B-mode image. In the current work, simulated and experimental data on a typical (47 mm aperture, 3.3-10.0 MHz response) linear array transducer are used to investigate the accuracy of this method. A range of candidate speeds of sound (1240-1740 m/s) was used, with a true speed of sound of 1490 m/s in simulations and 1488 m/s in experiments. Simulations of single point scatterers and two interfering point scatterers at various locations with respect to each other gave estimate errors of 0.0-2.0%. Simulations and experiments of scatterer distributions with a mean scatterer spacing of at least 0.5 mm gave estimate errors of 0.1-4.0%. In the case of lower scatterer spacing, the speed of sound estimates become unreliable due to a decrease in contrast of the sharpness measure between different candidate speeds of sound. This suggests that in estimating speed of sound in tissue, the region of interest should be dominated by a few, sparsely spaced scatterers. Conversely, the decreasing sensitivity of the sharpness measure to speed of sound errors for higher scatterer concentrations suggests a potential method for estimating mean scatterer spacing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miklós Gyöngy
- Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Práter utca 50/a, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Sára Kollár
- Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Práter utca 50/a, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
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Rajagopal S, Sadhoo N, Zeqiri B. Reference characterisation of sound speed and attenuation of the IEC agar-based tissue-mimicking material up to a frequency of 60 MHz. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2015; 41:317-33. [PMID: 25220268 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2014.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/26/2014] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
To support the development of clinical applications of high-frequency ultrasound, appropriate tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) are required whose acoustic properties have been measured using validated techniques. This paper describes the characterisation of the sound speed (phase velocity) and attenuation coefficient of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) agar-based TMM over the frequency range 1 to 60 MHz. Measurements implemented a broadband through-transmission substitution immersion technique over two overlapping frequency ranges, with co-axially aligned 50 MHz centre-frequency transducers employed for characterisation above 15 MHz. In keeping with usual practice employed within the technical literature, thin acoustic windows (membranes) made of 12-μm-thick Mylar protected the TMM from water damage. Various important sources of uncertainty that could compromise measurement accuracy have been identified and evaluated through a combination of experimental studies and modelling. These include TMM sample thickness, measured both manually and acoustically, and the influence of interfacial losses that, even for thin protective membranes, are significant at the frequencies of interest. In agreement with previous reports, the attenuation coefficient of the IEC TMM exhibited non-linear frequency dependence, particularly above 20 MHz, yielding a value of 0.93 ± 0.04 dB cm(-1) MHz(-1) at 60 MHz, derived at 21 ± 0.5°C. For the first time, phase velocity, measured with an estimated uncertainty of ±3.1 m s(-1), has been found to be dispersive over this extended frequency range, increasing from 1541 m s(-1) at 1 MHz to 1547 m s(-1) at 60 MHz. This work will help standardise acoustic property measurements, and establishes a reference measurement capability for TMMs underpinning clinical applications at elevated frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinath Rajagopal
- Acoustics and Ionising Radiation Division, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom.
| | - Neelaksh Sadhoo
- Acoustics and Ionising Radiation Division, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
| | - Bajram Zeqiri
- Acoustics and Ionising Radiation Division, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
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Guntur SR, Choi MJ. An improved tissue-mimicking polyacrylamide hydrogel phantom for visualizing thermal lesions with high-intensity focused ultrasound. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2014; 40:2680-2691. [PMID: 25220272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2014.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A recipe was created to improve the tissue-mimicking (TM) bovine serum albumin (BSA) polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAG) reported in our previous study (Choi MJ, Guntur SR, Lee KI, Paeng DG, Coleman AJ. Ultrasound Med Biol 2013; 29:439-448). In that work, the concentration of acrylamide in TM BSA PAG was increased to make its attenuation coefficient the same as that of a tissue. However, this increase made the PAG stiffer and less homogeneous. In addition, the increase in acrylamide caused a significant increase in temperature over the denaturation threshold of BSA during polymerization, which required forced cooling so that the PAG did not become opaque at room temperature after polymerization. To eliminate those shortcomings, we substituted the increased acrylamide with a viscous polysaccharide liquid (corn syrup). The concentration of corn syrup was optimized to 20% (w/v, tested in the volume of 50 mL), so that the acoustic properties of the PAG would be close to those of human liver. The improved TM (iTM) BSA PAG constructed in this study had a speed of sound of 1588 ± 9 m/s, an attenuation coefficient of 0.51 ± 0.06 dB cm(-1) at 1 MHz and a backscattering coefficient of 0.22 ± 0.09 × 10(-3) sr(-1) cm(-1) MHz(-1). The density and acoustic impedance were 1057 kg/m(3) and 1.68 MRayl, respectively, and the non-linear parameter (B/A) was 5.9 ± 0.3. The thermal, optical and mechanical properties were almost the same as those of the BSA PAG (Lafon et al.2005). Experimental verification indicated that the thermal lesions visualized in the proposed iTM BSA PAG by high-intensity focused ultrasound were highly reproducible. In conclusion, iTM BSA PAG was proven to eliminate TM BSA PAG shortcomings effectively and is expected to be a promising test phantom for clinical high-intensity focused ultrasound device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sitaramanjaneya Reddy Guntur
- Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Program of Biomedical Engineering, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea; Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Bangalore, India
| | - Min Joo Choi
- Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Program of Biomedical Engineering, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea.
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Salles S, Liebgott H, Basset O, Cachard C, Vray D, Lavarello R. Experimental evaluation of spectral-based quantitative ultrasound imaging using plane wave compounding. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2014; 61:1824-1834. [PMID: 25389161 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2014.006543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) based on backscatter coefficient (BSC) estimation has shown potential for tissue characterization. Beamforming using plane wave compounding has advantages for echographic, Doppler, and elastographic imaging; however, to date, plane wave compounding has not been experimentally evaluated for the purpose of BSC estimation. In this study, two BSC-derived parameters (i.e., the BSC midband fit and intercept) were estimated from experimental data obtained using compound plane wave beamforming. For comparison, QUS parameters were also estimated from data obtained using both fixed focus and dynamic receive beamforming. An ultrasound imaging system equipped with a 9-MHz center frequency, 64-element array was used to collect data up to a depth of 45 mm. Two gelatin phantoms with randomly distributed 20-μm inclusions with a homogeneous scatterer concentration and a two-region scatterer concentration were used for assessing the precision and lateral resolution of QUS imaging, respectively. The use of plane wave compounding resulted in accurate QUS estimation (i.e., bias in the BSC parameters of less than 2 dB) and relatively constant lateral resolution (i.e., BSC midband fit 10% to 90% rise distance ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 mm) throughout a 45 mm field of view. Although both fixed focus and dynamic receive beamforming provided the same performance around the focal depth, the reduction in SNR away from the focus resulted in a reduced field of view in the homogeneous phantom (i.e., only 28 mm). The lateral resolution also degraded away from the focus, with up to a 2-fold and 10-fold increase in the rise distance at 20 mm beyond the focal depth for dynamic receive and fixed focus beamforming, respectively. These results suggest that plane wave compounding has the potential to improve the performance of spectral-based quantitative ultrasound over other conventional beamforming strategies.
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