Experimental Validation of Perfusion Imaging With HOSVD Clutter Filters

IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control. 2020 Sep;67(9):1830-1838. doi: 10.1109/TUFFC.2020.2989109. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Abstract

Novel pulsed-Doppler methods for perfusion imaging are validated using dialysis cartridges as perfusion phantoms. Techniques that were demonstrated qualitatively at 24 MHz, in vivo, are here examined quantitatively at 5 and 12.5 MHz using phantoms with the blood-mimicking fluid flow within cellulose microfibers. One goal is to explore a variety of flow states to optimize measurement sensitivity and flow accuracy. The results show that 2-3-s echo acquisitions at roughly 10 frames/s yield the highest sensitivity to flows of 1-4 mL/min. A second goal is to examine methods for setting the parameters of higher order singular value decomposition (HOSVD) clutter filters. For stationary or moving clutter, the velocity of the blood-mimicking fluid in the microfibers is consistently estimated within measurement uncertainty (mean coefficient of variation = 0.26). Power Doppler signals were equivalent for stationary and moving clutter after clutter filtering, increasing approximately 3 dB/mL/min of blood-mimicking fluid flow for 0 ≤ q ≤ 4 mL/min. Comparisons between phantom and preclinical images show that peripheral perfusion imaging can be reliably achieved without contrast enhancement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Equipment Design
  • Hindlimb / blood supply
  • Hindlimb / diagnostic imaging
  • Mice
  • Perfusion Imaging* / instrumentation
  • Perfusion Imaging* / methods
  • Phantoms, Imaging*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler / methods*