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

描述(申请人提供)：超声图像质量差是超重和肥胖者的一个重要问题。通常，这些患者得到的诊断质量很差，而且诊断不明确，从而延误了治疗。此外，这些人可能会被转介到其他可能增加成本并使患者暴露于侵入性程序或电离辐射中的成像程序。我们开发了一种新的超声成像方法，称为短滞后空间相干成像(SLSC)，它具有降低声学噪声的能力，大大提高了超声图像的质量。我们提供了初步数据，证明了这项技术在人体肝脏上的成功。在此应用程序中，我们建议构建一个实时 SLSC成像系统，并用模拟组织体模分析其特性。此外，我们将构建这种成像技术的谐和版本，称为谐波空间相干成像(HSCI)，它可以提高成像系统的杂波抑制和分辨率。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。我们建议对接受超声引导下经皮肝脏局灶性病变活检的高BMI个体进行临床研究，以评估该技术在改善这些病变的检测和特征方面的潜力。

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.