REDUCED SPECKLE EFFECT ON ULTRASOUND LESION DETECTION

散斑是所有相干成像系统的基本特性。 它 从而降低了低对比度的可检测性 病变 斑点也被认为是一个重要的分心， 阻碍了超声成像的新应用。 TETRAD已经 证明了非线性迭代算法可以有效地 减少超声图像中的散斑，而没有显著的细节损失。 这样的发展可能会提高诊断价值的 超声波专家观众，并将简化图像的解释， 非专家 拟议的工作有三个目标：1）适应这一点， 超声成像的特殊要求 (e.g.,非均匀空间分辨率、高动态范围等）; 2)到 设计一种适合于实时散斑抑制的硬件结构; 以及3）临床证明该方法对于 提高了检测低对比度、局灶性病变的概率。 两 主要应用领域将被调查：1） 术中/腹腔镜肝脏和2）乳房扫描 筛选 将使用高频（7.5-12 MHz）进行成像， 高分辨率系统。 拟议的项目是一项合作努力 在硬件设计者、算法开发者和最终用户之间， 放射学和外科。

Speckle is a fundamental property of all coherent imaging systems. It reduces contrast resolution and thereby the detectability of low contrast lesions. Speckle is also perceived as a significant distraction and impediment for new applications of ultrasound imaging. TETRAD has demonstrated that a non-linear, iterative algorithm can effectively reduce speckle in ultrasound images without significant loss of detail. Such a development could potentially improve the diagnostic value of ultrasound for expert viewers and would ease image interpretation for the non-expert. The proposed work has three goals: 1) to adapt this algorithm to the special requirements imposed by ultrasound imaging (e.g., non-uniform spatial resolution, high dynamic range, etc.); 2) to design a hardware architecture suitable for real-time speckle reduction; and 3) to clinically demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for improving the probability of detecting low contrast, focal lesions. Two major application areas will be investigated: 1) intraoperative/laparoscopic scanning of the liver and 2) breast screening. Imaging will be performed using high frequency (7.5-12 MHz), high resolution systems. The proposed project is a collaborative effort between hardware designers, algorithm developers, and end-users in radiology and surgery.