Coherence-Based Fetal Ultrasonic Imaging

摘要 超声成像被广泛用于监测胎儿在第一和第二阶段的生长发育。 三个月，多项研究记录了由此产生的对胎儿和母亲的积极影响 结果。然而，目前的方法不能提供许多关键结构的充分可视化 这些患者很少使用其他成像模式。我们已经开发出 利用后向散射回波的空间相干性的新型超声波束形成方法。 这些方法在模拟、幻影和盲目观察者临床研究中显示出显著的效果。 与传统超声图像相比，图像质量得到了改善，尤其是在成像困难的患者。 我们建议将我们的相干成像理论扩展到1.5维和2D阵列以及超大型阵列。 使用这种先进的阵列，我们建议进行临床研究，以评估相干成像在 妊娠早期和中期扫描中的关键胎儿诊断任务。定量图像质量 提出了衡量标准和观察者研究，以比较B模式和相干图像与 重点放在目前成像方法无效的难以成像的患者身上。相关研究将 测量各种来源的图像退化在胎儿扫描中的作用。如果成功，则 拟议的研究可能导致一类新的超声波波束形成方法在 当前方法失败的成像环境。

Abstract Ultrasonic imaging is widely used to monitor fetal growth and development during the first and second trimester, and multiple studies document the resultant positive impacts on fetal and maternal outcomes. However, current methods fail to provide adequate visualization of key structures in many patients, and alternative imaging modes are rarely available to these patients. We have developed novel ultrasonic beamforming methods that utilize the spatial coherence of backscattered echoes. These methods, in simulation, phantom, and blinded-observer clinical studies, show markedly improved image quality over conventional ultrasonic images, especially in difficult-to-image patients. We propose extend our theory of coherence imaging to 1.5D and 2D arrays and to very large arrays. Using such advanced arrays, we propose clinical studies to assess the role of coherence imaging in key fetal diagnostic tasks in first trimester and second trimester scans. Quantitative image quality metrics and observer studies are proposed to compare B-mode and coherence images with an emphasis on difficult-to-image patients for whom current imaging methods fail. Related studies will measure the contribution of various sources of image degradation in fetal scans. If successful, the proposed research could lead to a new class of ultrasonic beamforming methods that operate in imaging environments in which current methods fail.