Development of Endoscopic Ultrasound System for Tissue Elasticity Imaging

超声组织弹性成像可为我们提供基于组织硬度的新型诊断信息，从而有望发现高对比度的肿瘤，并鉴别良恶性疾病。我们最近开发了商用的实时组织弹性成像设备，该设备基于我们之前提出的组合自相关方法，可以在普通超声检查的基础上实现简单操作的高精度诊断。另一方面，传统的弹性图像依赖于压缩水平而非定量，这是一个问题。此外，内窥镜测量有望有助于提高基于组织特征和经皮入路的诊断精度。从这个角度来看，我们的目标是通过量化常规应变图像和扩大临床应用领域来开发组织弹性的内窥镜超声成像系统。(1)主动压缩型组织弹性成像通过对组织的压缩，组织内部和触诊产生应变。本文对经直肠探头前列腺检查系统进行了研究。由于压力分布均匀，不依赖操作人员的技能，研制了水充气气球。被动压缩型组织弹性成像。这种类型的组织变形是由心脏运动或血压引起的。建立了一种经食管探针检测主动脉斑块的方法。应用超声内窥镜重建胰腺病变的应变图像。3)组织弹性的定量测量为了阐明组织弹性与病理意义的关系，采用机械压缩试验机对模型和组织标本进行了测量。通过这些研究，为组织弹性超声内镜成像系统奠定了基础技术，并为实用系统的开发提供了指导

Ultrasonic tissue elasticity imaging can provide us novel diagnostic information based on tissue hardness and consequently it is expected to detect tumor with high contrast and also discriminate benign and malignant disease. We recently developed commercial-based equipment for real-time tissue elasticity imaging based on the combined autocorrelation method which we have previously proposed to attain the high precision of diagnosis with simple operation as well as ordinary ultrasonic examination. On the other hand, there remains a problem that conventional elasticity image is not quantitative since it depends on the compression level. In addition, endoscopic measurement is expected to be useful for improving precision of diagnosis based on tissue characterization as well as percutaneous approaches.From this point of view, we aim to develop the endoscopic ultrasound systems for tissue elasticity imaging by quantification of conventional strain images and expansion of fields for clinical … More application.(1) Active compression type of tissue elasticity imagingBy compression of tissues, strain is induced within tissue as well as palpation. As this type, the system for prostate examination by using transrectal probe was investigated. The balloon which was inflated by water was developed for uniform distribution of stress and independence of operators' skill2) Passive compression type of tissue elasticity imagingDeformation of tissues is induced by cardiac motion or blood pressure in this type. The system for evaluation of aortic plaque by transesophageal type of probe was developed. Ultrasonic endoscope was used for reconstruct strain images of pancreas disease.3) Quantitative measurement of tissue elasticityTo elucidate the relation of tissue elasticity and pathological meaning, phantom and tissue specimen are measured by mechanical compression-tester.By way of these investigations, it was attained to develop the basic technology for the endoscopic ultrasound systems for tissue elasticity imaging and give direction to development of practical system Less