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Strain imaging using conventional and ultrafast ultrasound imaging: numerical analysis

IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2007 May;54(5):987-95. doi: 10.1109/tuffc.2007.344.

Abstract

In elasticity imaging, the ultrasound frames acquired during tissue deformation are analyzed to estimate the internal displacements and strains. If the deformation rate is high, high-frame-rate imaging techniques are required to avoid the severe decorrelation between the neighboring ultrasound images. In these high-frame-rate techniques, however, the broader and less focused ultrasound beam is transmitted and, hence, the image quality is degraded. We quantitatively compared strain images obtained using conventional and ultrafast ultrasound imaging methods. The performance of the elasticity imaging was evaluated using custom-designed, numerical simulations. Our results demonstrate that signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolutions in displacement and strain images acquired using conventional and ultrafast ultrasound imaging are comparable. This study suggests that the high-frame-rate ultrasound imaging can be reliably used in elasticity imaging if frame rate is critical.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Elasticity*
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Time Factors
  • Ultrasonography / methods*