The development of new three-dimensional ultrasound system and its examination of utility for the purpose of ultrasonic characterization of human fetal brain tissue

体积模式是一种有用的三维超声图像建模方法，它是一种相对较新的模式，与传统的二维模式相比，它具有许多强大的优点，因为它基于准确的位置信息。但由于该方法检测时间较长，难以获得实时图像。在这项研究中，我们开发了高速扫描探头，观察胎儿的实时运动。一般运动（GM），其优雅和连续性被认为是新生儿中枢神经系统功能的反映，可以在人类胎儿妊娠8-9周观察到。Hepper等人报道异常GM与妊娠早期流产有关。Visser等人报道，胎儿基因改造与新生儿相似。然而，这些观察是使用b模式扫描完成的，因此无法定量评估。我们采用该高速扫描探头观察胎儿GM，并探讨各肢体运动之间的关系。因此，我们发现胎儿GM与新生儿在各肢体运动关系上有显著的相似性。尽管使用这种探针也有望实现组织表征，但仍然很难检测到胎儿海马中的精细结构。似乎需要进一步的技术改进，特别是在硬件方面。综上所述，1)我们开发了一种新的可以实时观察胎儿运动的装置，并发现2)妊娠前三个月胎儿的GM与新生儿相似。3)胎儿大脑的精细组织表征仍然是一个有待解决的进一步任务。

The Volume-mode is a useful method to model three-dimensional ultrasound image, which is a relatively new modality with several potent advantages over conventional two-dimensional one, because it is based on accurate positional information. However, as this method requires long time to examine, it has been difficult to get real-time image. In this investigation, we developed the high-speed scanning probe and observed the fetal real-time movement.The General Movement (GM), whose elegance and continuity is known to reflect central nervous system function in neonates, can be observed since 8-9 weeks of gestation in human fetuses. Hepper et al. reported that abnormal GM relates miscarriage in the first trimester. Visser et al. reported that fetal GM is similar to those of neonates. However, these observations were done using B-mode scan, thus it has been impossible to evaluate quantitatively.We adopted this high-speed scanning probe to observe fetal GM and investigate on the relationship among the movements in each limbs. As a result, we found significant similarity between fetal GM and that of neonates in the relationship among the movements in each limbs. Although it was also expected to enable tissue characterization using this probe, it is still hard to detect fine structures in fetal hippocampus. It seemed to be required further technical improvement especially in hardware.In summary, 1) we developed a new device which can observe fetal real-time movement, and found that 2) fetal GM in the first trimester is similar to that of neonates. 3) Fine tissue characterization in fetal brain is remained as a further assignment to be addressed.