Systems and methods for contrast enhanced imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging techniques suffer from limited spatial resolution and residual clutter artifacts, particularly in vascular imaging, due to the large point spread function and vulnerability to patient-induced motion.
Innovation Solution
A contrast accumulation imaging technique that strategically selects multiple pixels to represent localized microbubbles within an image using filters, allowing for adjustable spatial resolution and reduced artifacts, while maintaining regular CEUS frame rates and shorter acquisition times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contrast accumulation imaging is used to improve spatial resolution, then spatial resolution is improved, but residual clutter artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes residual clutter artifacts from the contrast accumulation image through post-processing techniques. The system separates the desired microbubble signal from the harmful clutter artifacts that remain after accumulation, effectively removing the artifacts while preserving the enhanced spatial resolution information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the accumulation process by allowing adjustable numbers of pixels to represent individual microbubbles. This parameter adjustment optimizes the balance between spatial resolution enhancement and clutter artifact suppression, enabling the system to adapt to different imaging conditions and requirements.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple image frames are combined to form the final image, then contrast enhancement is improved, but vulnerability to patient induced motion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary motion correction to the individual image frames before they are combined for contrast accumulation. By pre-aligning the frames to compensate for patient-induced motion, the system ensures that the accumulation process enhances contrast without being compromised by motion artifacts.
3Loss of time
If conventional CEUS frame rates are used, then acquisition time is reduced, but spatial resolution is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic pixel selection process where the number of pixels representing each microbubble is adjustable based on imaging requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve high spatial resolution when needed while maintaining fast acquisition times for routine imaging, providing flexibility to optimize the trade-off between resolution and speed.
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
The technique provides improved spatial resolution and contrast-to-tissue ratio with reduced clutter, enabling high-resolution vascular imaging at conventional frame rates and shorter acquisition times compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
microbubbles may be injected into a subject's bloodstream and ultrasound images may be acquired of the subject's vasculature
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for visualizing microbubbles for contrast-enhanced imaging are described herein. Microbubbles may be visualized by multi-pixel spots by identifying and localizing individual microbubbles. Motion compensation may be provided for localized microbubbles or for contrast images prior to microbubble identification and localization. Users may determine the size of the multi-pixel spot by adjusting a filter, for example, adjusting a threshold value of the filter. Altering the size of the multi-pixel spot may alter the resolution. As the number of pixels increases, the resolution decreases, but the acquisition time may also decrease. As the number of pixels decreases, the resolution increases, but the acquisition time may increase.