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Huang ZH, Wang LK, Cai SY, Chen HX, Zhou Y, Cheng LK, Lin YW, Zheng MH, Zheng YP. Palm-Sized Wireless Transient Elastography System with Real-Time B-Mode Ultrasound Imaging Guidance: Toward Point-of-Care Liver Fibrosis Assessment. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:189. [PMID: 38248066 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14020189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Transient elastography (TE), recommended by the WHO, is an established method for characterizing liver fibrosis via liver stiffness measurement (LSM). However, technical barriers remain towards point-of-care application, as conventional TE requires wired connections, possesses a bulky size, and lacks adequate imaging guidance for precise liver localization. In this work, we report the design, phantom validation, and clinical evaluation of a palm-sized TE system that enables simultaneous B-mode imaging and LSM. The performance of this system was validated experimentally using tissue-equivalent reference phantoms (1.45-75 kPa). Comparative studies against other liver elastography techniques, including conventional TE and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), were performed to evaluate its reliability and validity in adults with various chronic liver diseases. Intra- and inter-operator reliability of LSM were established by an elastography expert and a novice. A good agreement was observed between the Young's modulus reported by the phantom manufacturer and this system (bias: 1.1-8.6%). Among 121 patients, liver stiffness measured by this system and conventional TE were highly correlated (r = 0.975) and strongly agreed with each other (mean difference: -0.77 kPa). Inter-correlation of this system with conventional TE and 2D-SWE was observed. Excellent-to-good operator reliability was demonstrated in 60 patients (ICCs: 0.824-0.913). We demonstrated the feasibility of employing a fully integrated phased array probe for reliable and valid LSM, guided by real-time B-mode imaging of liver anatomy. This system represents the first technical advancement toward point-of-care liver fibrosis assessment. Its small footprint, along with B-mode guidance capability, improves examination efficiency and scales up screening for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Hao Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li-Ke Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shang-Yu Cai
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Hao-Xin Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Yongjin Zhou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Lok-Kan Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yi-Wei Lin
- MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Ming-Hua Zheng
- MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for the Development of Chronic Liver Disease in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Yong-Ping Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Research Institute for Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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