A new formalism for the quantification of tissue perfusion by the destruction-replenishment method in contrast ultrasound imaging

• Published in: IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control ferroelectrics, and frequency control, 2006-06, Vol.53 (6), p.1118-1129
• Main Authors: Arditi, M., Frinking, P.J.A., Xiang Zhou, Rognin, N.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustics; Algorithms; Animals; Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Arteries - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical imaging; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Blood vessels; Computer Simulation; Contrast Media; Data mining; Echo surveys; Echocardiography - instrumentation; Echocardiography - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Flow velocity; Formalism; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Geometry; Humans; Image analysis; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging; In vitro; Instruments; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Models, Cardiovascular; Morphology; Phantoms, Imaging; Physics; Regional Blood Flow - physiology; Signal analysis; Transducers; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonics, quantum acoustics, and physical effects of sound; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0885-3010; 1525-8955
• DOI: 10.1109/TUFFC.2006.1642510

A new formalism is presented for the destruction-replenishment perfusion quantification approach at low mechanical index. On the basis of physical considerations, best-fit methods should be applied using perfusion functions with S-shape characteristics. These functions are first described for the case of a geometry with a single flow velocity, then extended to the case of vascular beds with blood vessels having multiple flow velocity values and directions. The principles guiding the analysis are, on one hand, a linearization of video echo signals to overcome the log-compression of the imaging instrument, and, on the other hand, the spatial distribution of the transmit-receive ultrasound beam in the elevation direction. An in vitro model also is described; it was used to confirm experimentally the validity of the approach using a commercial contrast agent. The approach was implemented in the form of a computer program, taking as input a sequence of contrast-specific images, as well as parameters related to the ultrasound imaging equipment used. The generated output is either flow-parameter values computed in regions-of-interest, or parametric flow-images (e.g., mean velocity, mean transit time, mean flow, flow variance, or skewness). This approach thus establishes a base for extracting information about the morphology of vascular beds in vivo, and could allow absolute quantification provided that appropriate instrument calibration is implemented.