An Efficient and Multi-Focal Focused Ultrasound Technique for Harmonic Motion Imaging

Harmonic motion imaging (HMI) is an ultrasound-based elasticity imaging technique that utilizes oscillatory acoustic radiation force to estimate the mechanical properties of tissues, as well as monitor high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. Conventionally, in HMI, a focused ultrasound (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering 2023-04, Vol.70 (4), p.1150-1161
Main Authors: Saharkhiz, Niloufar, Kamimura, Hermes A. S., Konofagou, Elisa E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic properties
Beam steering
Breast cancer
Data acquisition
Displacement
Elastic Modulus
Elasticity
Elasticity Imaging Techniques
elastography
electronic beam steering
Electronics
Feasibility
Foci
focused ultrasound (FUS)
Force
Harmonic analysis
Harmonic motion
harmonic motion imaging (HMI)
Humans
Image acquisition
Imaging
Imaging techniques
Inclusions
Mechanical properties
Medical imaging
Modulus of elasticity
Movement
multi-focal FUS
Radiation
Sound waves
Tissues
Transducers
Translation
Tumors
Ultrasonic imaging
Ultrasonic methods
Ultrasonic testing
Ultrasound
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Description
Summary:Harmonic motion imaging (HMI) is an ultrasound-based elasticity imaging technique that utilizes oscillatory acoustic radiation force to estimate the mechanical properties of tissues, as well as monitor high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment. Conventionally, in HMI, a focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer generates oscillatory tissue displacements, and an imaging transducer acquires channel data for displacement estimation, with each transducer being driven with a separate system. The fixed position of the FUS focal spot requires mechanical translation of the transducers, which can be a time-consuming and challenging procedure. In this study, we developed and characterized a new HMI system with a multi-element FUS transducer with the capability of electronic focal steering of ±5 mm and ±2 mm from the geometric focus in the axial and lateral directions, respectively. A pulse sequence was developed to drive both the FUS and imaging transducers using a single ultrasound data acquisition (DAQ) system. The setup was validated on a tissue-mimicking phantom with embedded inclusions. Integrating beam steering with the mechanical translation of the transducers resulted in a consistent high contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for the inclusions with Young's moduli of 22 and 44 kPa within a 5-kPa background while the data acquisition speed is increased by 4.5-5.2-fold compared to the case when only mechanical movements were applied. The feasibility of simultaneous generation of multiple foci and tracking the induced displacements is demonstrated in phantoms for applications where imaging or treatment of a larger region is needed. Moreover, preliminary feasibility is shown in a human subject with a breast tumor, where the mean HMI displacement within the tumor was about 4 times lower than that within perilesional tissues. The proposed HMI system facilitates data acquisition in terms of flexibility and speed and can be potentially used in the clinic for breast cancer imaging and treatment.
ISSN:0018-9294
1558-2531
DOI:10.1109/TBME.2022.3211465