Doppler Window for Low-Cost High-Performance Vascular Imaging

描述(申请人提供)：本提案描述了一种新颖、低成本、高性能的手持式多普勒超声成像系统，以满足从简单的血管定位到高级血管诊断技术(如弹性成像)的临床需求。这项研究方案将成熟的基本技术与现代技术相结合。建议的设备重新审视了原有的超声多普勒血流测量技术，但使用了创新的工程设计，采用了精确跟踪和保持前端、低速和低成本的ADC(模数转换器)，以及创新的磁驱动系统和分布式信号处理架构，实现了高度灵活的超轻量级手持无线成像仪，能够以以前无法实现的制造成本进行2D成像。对于这个项目，基本组件包括PW多普勒，使用我们专有的电磁驱动系统来产生2D测量场。我们进一步研究了一种简化的图像采集方法，该方法使用低速ADC和精确的锁定并保持B扫描功能。我们通过整合专有的信号处理算法来扩展成像能力，这些算法利用现代小型化电子元件和高带宽无线技术(如802.11n)，将低电平超声信号的产生、采集和预处理集成到换能器显示模块中，然后分发(远程执行)高电平信号处理、图像构建和图像处理。通过分离处理、传感和可视化组件，可以对计算平台进行优化，以执行这些任务。我们的软件和硬件简化并保持了成本更高、体积更大的系统中的性能。这项建议建立在广泛工作的基础上，将降低这项由NIH赞助的技术成功商业翻译的风险。 公共卫生相关性：这项提案将实施和测试一种新型的、低成本的手持超声系统，该系统具有专有的分布式信号处理，以满足血管超声的临床需求。拟议的设备和研究将经过验证的基本技术与现代技术相结合。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal describes a novel, low-cost, high-performance hand-held Doppler ultrasound imaging system to meet the clinical needs from simple vessel location to advanced vascular diagnostic techniques such as elasticity imaging. This research proposal integrates proven fundamental techniques with modern technology. The proposed device revisits original ultrasound Doppler flow measurement techniques, but significantly improves on them using an innovative engineering design with an accurate track and hold front-end, low-speed and low-cost ADCs (analog to digital converters) with an innovative magnetic drive system and distributed signal processing architecture to realize a highly flexible an ultra-lightweight, handheld, wireless imager capable of 2D imaging at a manufacturing cost that was previously impossible to realize. For this project essential components include PW Doppler using our proprietary electromagnetic drive system to generate the 2D measurement field. We further investigate a simplified method of image acquisition using low speed ADC's and accurate lock-and-hold for B-scan capabilities. We expand the imaging capabilities by incorporating proprietary signal processing algorithms that leverage modern, miniaturized electronic components and high bandwidth wireless technology, such as 802.11n, to integrate low-level ultrasound signal generation, acquisition and pre-processing in the transducer-display module and then distribute (remotely perform) the higher-level signal processing, image construction and image processing. Decoupling the processing, sensing and visualization components allow computing platforms to be optimized to perform these tasks. Our software and hardware simplifies and maintains the performance seen in higher cost bulkier systems. This proposal builds upon extensive work that will reduce the risk for successful commercial translation of this NIH sponsored technology. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal will implement and test a novel, low cost, hand-held ultrasound system with proprietary distributed signal processing to meet the clinical needs for vascular ultrasound. The proposed device and study integrates proven fundamental techniques with modern technology.