3D Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Navigation with Spatial Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound diagnostic imaging systems, particularly non-enhanced ultrasound, face challenges in visualizing targets like tumors accurately during interventional procedures, leading to inaccuracies in needle placement and poor therapeutic outcomes due to transient contrast enhancement and inaccuracies in estimating target location with pre-acquired CEUS volumes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with spatial tracking to maintain accurate guidance by simultaneously acquiring and displaying real-time tissue images with corresponding CEUS multi-planar reconstructions, correcting for tissue motion, and enabling prolonged visualization of target locations beyond the initial contrast enhancement period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging is used to improve tumor visualization, then target visibility is improved, but the time window for procedure completion is limited due to transient contrast enhancement
Solution Approach 1:
A pre-acquired 3D CEUS volume is obtained before the interventional procedure to establish accurate target location and contrast enhancement characteristics. This preliminary imaging allows the procedure to proceed using non-contrast real-time ultrasound guidance while maintaining accurate navigation to the target identified during the contrast enhancement phase
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a 3D volumetric copy of the target region with contrast enhancement, then uses spatial tracking to register and overlay this pre-acquired contrast image with real-time non-contrast ultrasound images during the procedure. This allows the benefits of contrast enhancement to be preserved without requiring continuous contrast administration
2Loss of information
If a pre-acquired 3D CEUS volume is used for navigation, then target location information is obtained, but position accuracy deteriorates due to unknown relative position and tissue motion
Solution Approach 1:
A spatial tracking system continuously monitors the positions of both the ultrasound probe and the target tissue throughout the procedure. This real-time feedback allows the system to dynamically update the registration between the pre-acquired 3D CEUS volume and current ultrasound images, compensating for tissue motion and maintaining accurate position information
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual estimation of target location based on anatomical landmarks with an automated spatial tracking and image registration system. This electronic/optical tracking system objectively measures and compensates for position changes, eliminating the inaccuracy of mental transfer and landmark-based estimation
3Productivity
If non-contrast real-time ultrasound is used for guidance, then continuous imaging is available, but target visualization accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges pre-acquired 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound data with real-time non-contrast ultrasound imaging. The contrast information from the pre-acquired volume is overlaid or co-displayed with the real-time images, combining the continuous imaging capability of non-contrast ultrasound with the superior target visualization of contrast-enhanced ultrasound
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-acquired 3D CEUS volume acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between non-contrast real-time imaging and contrast-enhanced target visualization. By registering and displaying contrast information from this intermediate dataset alongside real-time images, the system provides both continuous imaging and accurate target visualization
Data Source
AI summary
A method for interventional navigation using 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging includes acquiring a reference 3D CEUS volume and tracking information during a useful lifetime of a contrast enhancement agent administered to the anatomy. Real-time tracked tissue images are acquired during the interventional procedure. In addition, a corresponding CEUS multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) for at least one of the acquired real-time tracked tissue images is generated. At least one of the acquired real-time tracked tissue images is displayed along with the corresponding CEUS MPR. The displayed real-time tracked tissue image includes at least an image of the instrument within the desired portion of the anatomy and the CEUS MPR corresponds to the displayed real-time tracked tissue image. Thus, the contrast enhanced image information and tissue image information are concurrently display for the interventional navigation at least subsequent to the expiration of the contrast enhancement useful lifetime.