Ultrasound Microcalcification Detection via Coherence Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mammography struggles with detecting microcalcifications in dense breast tissue, offering poor sensitivity and exposing patients to ionizing radiation, while conventional ultrasound lacks sensitivity for microcalcifications and requires uncomfortable compression.
Innovation Solution
A medical ultrasound acquisition-data analysis device that utilizes channel data to estimate coherence and derive eigenvalue dominance, enhancing contrast between microcalcifications and background tissue, thereby improving sensitivity and specificity for microcalcification detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional mammography is used to detect microcalcifications, then detection sensitivity is improved, but patients are exposed to ionizing radiation and require compression plates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the X-ray based mammography system with an ultrasound-based system that uses acoustic waves instead of ionizing radiation. The ultrasound transducer emits sound waves that penetrate breast tissue without radiation exposure, and receives backscattered echoes to form images, thereby eliminating the harmful radiation effect while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter used for imaging from electromagnetic radiation (X-rays) to acoustic waves (ultrasound). By operating at specific frequency ranges and utilizing acoustic impedance differences between tissues, the system achieves microcalcification detection without ionizing radiation, directly addressing the harmful factor while preserving measurement precision
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional ultrasound is used for breast imaging, then no ionizing radiation and no compression plates are needed, but sensitivity to microcalcifications is poor (50-80%)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by using coherence factor calculation to identify specific local regions where microcalcifications are present. The coherence factor measures the consistency of phase relationships across different receive elements, and microcalcifications exhibit distinct coherence patterns compared to surrounding tissue, enabling localized detection with high sensitivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces coherence factor as an intermediary parameter that mediates between the raw ultrasound channel data and the final image formation. By calculating coherence factors from channel data before image reconstruction, the system enhances microcalcification visibility and detection sensitivity without requiring compression or radiation
3Speed
If conventional ultrasound beamforming is used, then imaging speed is maintained, but contrast between microcalcifications and background tissue is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by calculating coherence factors from channel data before the final image reconstruction step. This preprocessing operation extracts enhanced contrast information from the raw data, allowing microcalcifications to be distinguished from background tissue with improved contrast while maintaining real-time imaging speed through efficient computational algorithms
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
Simplifies breast cancer screening and biopsy procedures by enhancing the detection of microcalcifications, improving diagnostic confidence and workflow with improved sensitivity and specificity.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring channel data via ultrasound received on the channels
Implementation Method 2
Channel data may have been subject to beamforming delays and may be summed in a beamforming procedure executed in the estimating
Implementation Method 3
using the acquired channel data to estimate coherence of the data
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A medical ultrasound acquisition-data analysis device acquires channel data (144) via ultrasound received on the channels, uses the acquired channel data to estimate data coherence and derive dominance of an eigenvalue of a channel covariance matrix and, based on the estimate and dominance, distinguishes microcalcifications (142) from background. Microcalcifications may then be made distinguishable visually on screen via highlighting, coloring, annotation, etc. The channel data operable upon by the estimating may have been subject to beamforming delays and may be summed in a beamforming procedure executed in the estimating. In the estimating and deriving, both field point-by-field point, multiple serial transmits (116, 118) may be used for each field point. In one embodiment results of the estimating and deriving are multiplied point-by-point and submitted to thresholding.