Improved Image Quality of Focal Liver Lesions Using the Coherence of Ultrasound

描述（由申请人提供）：超声图像质量差是超重和肥胖个体的一个重要问题。通常，这些人接受质量差和不确定的诊断，这延误了治疗。此外，这些个体可能被转诊至其他成像程序，这可能增加成本并使患者暴露于侵入性程序或电离辐射。我们开发了一种新的超声成像方法，称为短滞后空间相干（SLSC）成像，具有降低声学噪声的能力，大大提高了超声图像的质量。我们目前的初步数据表明，这种技术在人类肝脏的成功。在这个应用程序中，我们建议建立一个实时的 SLSC成像系统，并利用仿组织体模分析其特性。此外，我们将建立这种成像技术的谐波版本，称为谐波空间相干成像（HSCI），提高杂波抑制和成像系统的分辨率。我们还建议开发描述这种成像技术的理论原理，并将使用这些理论模型来帮助我们开发更复杂的拟议技术版本。我们建议在接受超声引导下经皮肝穿刺活检的高BMI个体中进行临床研究，以评估该技术在改善这些病变的检测和表征方面的潜力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Poor ultrasonic image quality is a significant problem for overweight and obese individuals. Often, these individuals receive poor quality and indeterminate diagnoses, which delay treatment. In addition, these individual may be referred to other imaging procedures that may increase costs and expose the patient to invasive procedures or ionizing radiation. We have developed a new ultrasonic imaging method, called Short-Lag Spatial Coherence (SLSC) imaging that has the ability to reduce acoustical noise and greatly improve the quality of ultrasonic images. We present preliminary data that demonstrates the success of this technique in human livers. In this application, we propose to build a real-time SLSC imaging system and analyze its characteristics with tissue-mimicking phantoms. In addition, we will build a harmonic version of this imaging technique, called Harmonic Spatial Coherence Imaging (HSCI) that improves clutter suppression and resolution of the imaging system. We also propose to develop the theoretical principles that describe this imaging technique, and will use these theoretical models to aid our development of more sophisticated versions of the proposed technique. We propose clinical studies in high BMI individuals undergoing ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsies of focal liver lesions to evaluate the potential of this technique in improving the detection and characterization of those lesions.