An Ultrasound Tomography System With Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Moldings for Coupling: In Vivo Results for 3-D Pulse-Echo Imaging of the Female Breast

Koch A, Stiller F, Lerch R, Ermert H (2015)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Journal

IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Book Volume: 62

Pages Range: 266-279

DOI: 10.1109/TUFFC.2014.006494

Abstract

Full-angle spatial compounding (FASC) is a concept for pulse-echo imaging using an ultrasound tomography (UST) system. With FASC, resolution is increased and speckles are suppressed by averaging pulse-echo data from 360 degrees. In vivo investigations have already shown a great potential for 2-D FASC in the female breast as well as for finger-joint imaging. However, providing a small number of images of parallel cross-sectional planes with enhanced image quality is not sufficient for diagnosis. Therefore, volume data (3-D) is needed. For this purpose, we further developed our UST add-on system to automatically rotate a motorized array (3-D probe) around the object of investigation. Full integration of external motor and ultrasound electronics control in a custom-made program allows acquisition of 3-D pulse-echo RF datasets within 10 min. In case of breast cancer imaging, this concept also enables imaging of near-thorax tissue regions which cannot be achieved by 2-D FASC. Furthermore, moldings made of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA-H) have been developed as a new acoustic coupling concept. It has a great potential to replace the water bath technique in UST, which is a critical concept with respect to clinical investigations. In this contribution, we present in vivo results for 3-D FASC applied to imaging a female breast which has been placed in a PVA-H molding during data acquisition. An algorithm is described to compensate time-of-flight and consider refraction at the water-PVA-H molding and molding-tissue interfaces. Therefore, the mean speed of sound (SOS) for the breast tissue is estimated with an image-based method. Our results show that the PVA-H molding concept is applicable and feasible and delivers good results. 3-D FASC is superior to 2-D FASC and provides 3-D volume data at increased image quality.

Authors with CRIS profile

Florian Stiller Lehrstuhl für Autonome Systeme und Mechatronik Reinhard Lerch Lehrstuhl für Autonome Systeme und Mechatronik Helmut Ermert Lehrstuhl für Autonome Systeme und Mechatronik

Involved external institutions

Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Koch, A., Stiller, F., Lerch, R., & Ermert, H. (2015). An Ultrasound Tomography System With Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Moldings for Coupling: In Vivo Results for 3-D Pulse-Echo Imaging of the Female Breast. IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 62, 266-279. https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TUFFC.2014.006494

MLA:

Koch, Andreas, et al. "An Ultrasound Tomography System With Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Moldings for Coupling: In Vivo Results for 3-D Pulse-Echo Imaging of the Female Breast." IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control 62 (2015): 266-279.

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