Quantative Imaging of Microbubble Ultrasound Contrast Agent with Correction of Attenuation

拟议的研究是在医学成像的一般领域。目的是开发新的图像形成技术，超声（US）成像使用合同代理。这将提高超声对包含非常小的血管（微循环）的组织进行成像的准确性。在超声成像中，与患者皮肤接触的探头发射超声脉冲，然后检测来自患者体内组织结构的回波信号。基于这些回波形成图像。美国的合同代理是由气体核心组成的微小气泡。当注射到静脉中时，它们允许在血液中并通过身体中的所有血管。气泡可以强烈地增加回声并使包含它们的组织的图像变亮。这使得微循环成像成为可能。准确测量气泡数量（定量）以及气泡数量随时间的变化可以提供有关组织功能的有用信息。特别是在心脏病和癌症患者的临床研究中，这是非常宝贵的。这些测量中误差的一个主要原因是声音通过含有气泡的组织传播时响度（衰减）的降低。泡沫以一种复杂的方式削弱了我们。由于缺乏对这种衰减过程的深入理解，因此在图像形成期间没有校正这种衰减的有效方式。这导致图像中的误差，并因此导致气泡数量的估计。误差变得更大，在更深的深度在组织中的衰减是great.I建议开发新的图像形成技术与校正的衰减，考虑到独特的行为的气泡。计算机模拟研究和受控实验室实验测量的气泡将有助于开发和验证所提出的新的图像形成技术。特别地，我建议1）通过对这些气泡的计算机建模和仿真来彻底研究气泡如何衰减US。2）开发由于气泡引起的US衰减的复杂过程的全面数学描述，并通过受控实验来验证它。3）基于1）和2）开发新的成像技术，以形成具有衰减校正的包含微气泡的组织的图像。本研究的结果有望使超声造影剂图像的临床分析更加可靠。

The proposed research is in the general area of medical imaging. The aim is to develop novel image formation techniques for ultrasound (US) imaging using contract agents. This will improve the accuracy of US for imaging tissue containing very small blood vessels (microcirculation).In US imaging a probe, which is in contact with the patient's skin, emits an US pulse and then detects the echo signal from tissue structures within the patient. Based on these echoes images are formed. US contract agents are tiny bubbles consisting of a gas core. When injected into the vein, they allow within the blood and pass through all the blood vessels in the body. The bubbles can strongly increase the echoes and brighten up the image of tissue containing them. This enables the imaging of the microcirculation. Accurate measurement of the number of bubbles (quantification) and how this changes over time can provide useful information on tissue function . In Particular this can be invaluable in clinical investigations of patients with heartdiseases and cancer.One major cause of error in these measurements results from the decrease in loudness (attenuation) of the sound ac it travels though the tissue containing bubbles. Bubbles attenuate US in a complex way. Due to a lack of in-depth understanding of this attenuation process there is consequently no efficient way of correcting for this attenuation during image formation. This causes errors in images and consequently the estimation of the number of bubbles. The errors become even larger at deeper depth in tissue where attenuation is greater.I propose to develop novel image formation techniques with correction of attenuation, which takes into account the unique behaviour of the bubbles. Both computer simulation studies and controlled laboratory experimental measurements of the bubbles will be made to help develop and validate the proposed novel image formation techniques. Specially I propose to1) thoroughly investigate how bubbles attenuate US through computer modelling and simulation of these bubbles.2) develop a comprehensive mathematical description of the complicated process of US attenuation due to bubbles and validate it with controlled experiments.3) develop based on 1)&2) novel image formation techniques to form images of tissue containing microbubble with correction of attenuation. This results of this study is expected to make the clinical analysis of US contrast agent images more reliable.