Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Pulse Sequencing for Faster Super-Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging struggles with limited microvascular structural detail display due to diffraction limits, and current super-resolution CEUS methods require prolonged acquisition times, compromising imaging efficiency and real-time visualization.
Innovation Solution
A novel ultrasound imaging method that transmits a combination of single pulses and pulse sequences with varying amplitudes to a target object injected with a contrast agent, utilizing echo signals from both for real-time microbubble imaging and super-resolution CEUS, enabling ultra-high frame rate data acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional frame-rate pulse sequences are used for data acquisition, then standard imaging depth and field of view are maintained, but super-resolution imaging requires prolonged acquisition times resulting in low imaging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pulse sequence is segmented into multiple groups, where each group contains a subset of pulses used for super-resolution data acquisition. By dividing the total pulse sequence into multiple smaller groups that can be processed in parallel or interleaved, the system achieves ultra-high frame rates while maintaining comprehensive sampling for super-resolution reconstruction, thereby reducing total acquisition time without sacrificing spatial resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic transmission of ultrasound pulses at ultra-high frame rates, where pulses are transmitted in regular intervals faster than conventional frame rates. This periodic action allows accumulation of sufficient echo signals for super-resolution processing while maintaining high temporal sampling, thus improving imaging efficiency without compromising measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If conventional pulse sequences are used, then imaging depth is maintained, but microvascular structural details cannot be resolved due to diffraction limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temporal parameters of pulse transmission by using ultra-high frame rates, which increases the number of pulses transmitted per unit time. This parameter change allows accumulation of more echo signals from deep tissue structures, improving the signal-to-noise ratio for microvascular detection at imaging depths while achieving super-resolution through temporal sampling rather than spatial focusing
3Productivity
If ultra-high frame rate pulse sequences are used, then super-resolution imaging speed is improved, but data acquisition time for sufficient raw image data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous transmission of ultrasound pulses at ultra-high frame rates without interruption, ensuring that data acquisition is ongoing throughout the imaging process. This continuous action allows rapid accumulation of sufficient raw image data for super-resolution processing, reducing the effective acquisition time needed while maintaining high productivity through uninterrupted sampling
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Simultaneously achieves reduced super-resolution imaging data collection time and real-time visualization of microbubble dynamics, allowing for detailed observation of microvascular structures and tissue details.
Implementation Method 1
controlling an ultrasound probe to transmit a plurality of ultrasound pulse combinations to a target object injected with a contrast agent and receive ultrasound echo signals
Data Source
AI summary
Discloses are a CEUS imaging method and an ultrasound imaging apparatus. The method includes: controlling an ultrasound probe to transmit multiple ultrasound pulse combinations to a target object injected with a contrast agent and receive ultrasound echo signals, wherein each combination comprises multiple consecutive single pulses and one pulse sequence, the single pulses are of the same amplitude, and the pulse sequence comprises at least two pulses with different amplitudes; acquiring first echo signals corresponding to the pulse sequence from the ultrasound echo signals, generating and real-time displaying a contrast microbubble image based on the first echo signals; acquiring second echo signals corresponding to the single pulses from the ultrasound echo signals, and generating and displaying a SR-CEUS image based on the second echo signals. This method enables ultra-high frame rate data acquisition to reduce super-resolution imaging data collection time, while concurrently realizing real-time visualization of microbubble dynamics.