Multi-Pulse Ultrasound Contrast Imaging for Improved Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Abstract
Preliminary reports indicate that ultrasound contrast significantly improves the sensitivity and specificity of breast ultrasound imaging. We propose using a patented multi-pulse contrast imaging technique. This technique applies two acoustic fields one for bubble excitation and the other for imaging. The excitation field will momentarily increase bubble sizes resulting in an increase in the number of bubbles with a size close to the resonance size corresponding to the (second) imaging field. If the imaging field is applied simultaneously with (or slightly after) the excitation field, acoustic scattering from bubbles around resonance size becomes markedly stronger than without the excitation field. This project will optimize the performance of ultrasound systems for use in breast imaging with contrast agents, in conventional as well as harmonic imaging modes, by developing multi-pulse contrast specific imaging. To date, an in vitro dual-transducer pulse-echo system has been built to evaluate excitation enhanced imaging and initial experiments have been conducted with the contrast agents Sonazoid and Sonavist. Up to 12 and 16 dB improvement in SNR were measured in fundamental and second harmonic modes respectively. An NIH grant was submitted based on these preliminary results.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA396967
Entities
People
- Flemming Forsberg
Organizations
- Thomas Jefferson University