TY - GEN
T1 - Quantitative analysis of subharmonic imaging using microbubbles in contrast imaging
AU - Park, Suhyun
AU - Dianis, Scott
AU - Thomenius, Kai E.
AU - Chalek, Carl L.
AU - Wayne Rigby, K.
AU - Mo, Larry
AU - Lin, Feng
AU - Pan, Lihong
AU - Hall, Anne L.
AU - Forsberg, Flemming
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Second-harmonic imaging (SecHI) has been widely used to improve the contrast of microbubbles with respect to tissue since microbubbles have a large second-harmonic response. Unlike tissue, microbubbles can also have a response at subharmonic frequency. In order to take advantage of subharmonics in contrast imaging, the image quality of subharmonic imaging (SubHI) and SecHI are analyzed through quantitative comparisons. Nonlinear tissue and bubble responses are simulated for numerical analysis. SubHI and SecHI modes are implemented on a Logiq 9 scanner (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA). Images of a flow phantom (ATS laboratories, CT, USA) with Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) microbubbles are presented. The contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are calculated with variations of the bubble concentration and the depth of the vessel tube. The experimental results agree well with the simulations. The CTR at the subharmonic frequency can be higher than the value in second-harmonics. For deep-lying bubbles, the CTR for SubHI is 15 dB higher than for SecHI. Although the SNR at the subharmonic frequency can be lower than that at the second-harmonic frequency, it is suggested that SubHI with high blood-to-tissue contrast may be useful when the sensitivity is a major concern.
AB - Second-harmonic imaging (SecHI) has been widely used to improve the contrast of microbubbles with respect to tissue since microbubbles have a large second-harmonic response. Unlike tissue, microbubbles can also have a response at subharmonic frequency. In order to take advantage of subharmonics in contrast imaging, the image quality of subharmonic imaging (SubHI) and SecHI are analyzed through quantitative comparisons. Nonlinear tissue and bubble responses are simulated for numerical analysis. SubHI and SecHI modes are implemented on a Logiq 9 scanner (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA). Images of a flow phantom (ATS laboratories, CT, USA) with Sonazoid (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway) microbubbles are presented. The contrast-to-tissue ratio (CTR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are calculated with variations of the bubble concentration and the depth of the vessel tube. The experimental results agree well with the simulations. The CTR at the subharmonic frequency can be higher than the value in second-harmonics. For deep-lying bubbles, the CTR for SubHI is 15 dB higher than for SecHI. Although the SNR at the subharmonic frequency can be lower than that at the second-harmonic frequency, it is suggested that SubHI with high blood-to-tissue contrast may be useful when the sensitivity is a major concern.
KW - Contrast agent
KW - Harmonics
KW - Microbubble
KW - Second-harmonic imaging
KW - Subharmonic imaging
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84869008321&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/ULTSYM.2011.0155
DO - 10.1109/ULTSYM.2011.0155
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84869008321
SN - 9781457712531
T3 - IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS
SP - 640
EP - 643
BT - 2011 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2011
T2 - 2011 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2011
Y2 - 18 October 2011 through 21 October 2011
ER -