US 12,105,052 B2Granted

Systems and methods for ultrasound imaging and focusing

AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation

InventorsCostas Arvanitis, Arpit Patel, Scott Joseph Schoen, Zhigen Zhao

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Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for ultrasound imaging and targeting. In one example, the systems and methods improve targeting and imaging through a heterogenous medium by using the angular spectrum approach (ASA) alone or in combination with passive acoustic mapping (PAM). In another example, the systems and methods improve the ultrasound imaging of vessels using microbubbles. The imaging of the vessels is also aided by the ASA and PAM. A closed loop controller is described that adjusts the ultrasound pressure provided to a region of interest to a desired pressure based at least in part on the harmonic, ultra-harmonic, sub-harmonic, or broadband frequency ranges for the microbubbles.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of imaging using ultrasound waves and microbubbles comprising:

introducing microbubbles into a vessel;
providing ultrasound waves through an outer surface of the vessel and to at least a portion of the microbubbles;
receiving a first set of signals corresponding to a first excitation of at least a portion of the microbubbles;
receiving a second set of signals corresponding to a second excitation of at least a portion of the microbubbles;
isolating a first set of amplitude peaks via a first morphological reconstruction of the first set of signals;
isolating a second set of amplitude peaks via a second morphological reconstruction of the second set of signals;
identifying a first plurality of peak locations based on the first morphological reconstruction;
identifying a second plurality of peak locations based on the second morphological reconstruction;
connecting each peak location of the first plurality of peak locations and the second plurality of peak locations via a Euclidian minimum spanning tree;
selecting a first target location from the first plurality of peak locations and the second plurality of peak locations;
calculating a first vessel center location using a local linear regression for a first set of locations located at a predetermined distance from the first target location;
selecting a second target location from the first plurality of peak locations and the second plurality of peak locations;
calculating a second vessel center location using the local linear regression for a second set of locations at the predetermined distance from the second target location;
and
calculating a center of the vessel based at least in part on the first vessel center location and the second vessel center location.

12 more elements

A system for localizing a source with ultrasound waves comprising:

a transducer configured to provide the ultrasound waves;
a receiver configured to receive signals produced by the ultrasound waves interacting with microbubbles;
a processing platform comprising at least one processor, the processing platform in communication with the transducer and the receiver;
and
a memory in communication with the processing platform and storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:
provide, by the transducer, a first set of ultrasound waves through an outer surface of a vessel and to at least a portion of the microbubbles;
receive, at the receiver, a first set of signals corresponding to a first excitation of at least a portion of the microbubbles;
calculate, with the processing platform, a first angular spectrum of the first set of signals;
generate, with the processing platform, a first pixel intensity field with the first angular spectrum;
isolate, with the processing platform, a first set of amplitude peaks via a first morphological reconstruction of the first set of signals;
identify a first plurality of peak locations based on the first morphological reconstruction;
provide, by the transducer, a second set of ultrasound waves through the outer surface of the vessel and to at least a portion of the microbubbles;
receive, at the receiver, a second set of signals corresponding to a second excitation of at least a portion of the microbubbles;
calculate, with the processing platform, a second angular spectrum of the second set of signals;
generate, with the processing platform, a second pixel intensity field with the second angular spectrum;
isolate, with the processing platform, a second set of amplitude peaks via a second morphological reconstruction of the second set of signals;
identify a second plurality of peak locations based on the second morphological reconstruction;
connect, with the processing platform, each peak location of the first plurality of peak locations and the second plurality of peak locations via a Euclidian minimum spanning tree;
select, with the processing platform, a first target location from the first plurality of peak locations and the second plurality of peak locations;
select, with the processing platform, a second target location from the first plurality of peak locations and the second plurality of peak locations;
calculate, with the processing platform, a first vessel center location using a local linear regression for a first set of locations located at a predetermined distance from the first target location;
calculate, with the processing platform, a second vessel center location using the local linear regression for a second set of locations located at the predetermined distance from the second target location;
calculate, with the processing platform, a center of the vessel based at least in part on the first vessel center location and the second vessel center location;
and
superimpose, with the processing platform, the first plurality of peak locations with the second plurality of peak locations to create an image of the vessel.

22 more elements

A system for localizing a source with ultrasound waves comprising:

a transducer configured to provide the ultrasound waves;
a receiver configured to receive signals produced by the ultrasound waves interacting with microbubbles;
a processing platform comprising at least one processor, the processing platform in communication with the transducer and the receiver;
and
a memory in communication with the processing platform and storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:
provide, by the transducer, a first set of ultrasound waves through an outer surface of a vessel and to at least a portion of the microbubbles;
provide, by the transducer, a second set of ultrasound waves through the outer surface of the vessel and to at least a portion of the microbubbles;
receive, at the receiver, a first set of signals corresponding to a first excitation of at least a portion of the microbubbles;
receive, at the receiver, a second set of signals corresponding to a second excitation of at least a portion of the microbubbles;
calculate, with the processing platform, a first angular spectrum of the first set of signals;
calculate, with the processing platform, a second angular spectrum of the second set of signals;
generate, with the processing platform, a first pixel intensity field with the first angular spectrum;
generate, with the processing platform, a second pixel intensity field with the second angular spectrum;
isolate, with the processing platform, a first set of amplitude peaks via a first morphological reconstruction of the first set of signals;
isolate, with the processing platform, a second set of amplitude peaks via a second morphological reconstruction of the second set of signals;
identify a first plurality of peak locations based on the first morphological reconstruction;
identify a second plurality of peak locations based on the second morphological reconstruction;
connect, with the processing platform, each peak location of the first plurality of peak locations via a Euclidian minimum spanning tree;
assign, with the processing platform, a first time stamp for a first location of the first plurality of peak locations;
connect, with the processing platform, each peak location of the second plurality of peak locations via the Euclidian minimum spanning tree;
assign, with the processing platform, a second time stamp for a second location of the second plurality of peak locations;
and
calculate, with the processing platform, a flow rate through the vessel based on the first time stamp, the second time stamp, and a distance between the first location and the second location.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/291,504Filed 7 Nov 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 9 Nov 2018
Published: US 2022/0011270 A113 Jan 2022
Granted: 1 Oct 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G01N 29/0654
Visualisation of the interior, e.g. acoustic microscopy: imaging
G01N 29/221
Details , e.g. general constructional or apparatus details: arrangements for directing or focusing the acoustical waves
G01N 29/348
Generating the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves , e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor: with frequency characteristics, e.g.…
G01N 29/44
Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by…