Physics in Medicine and Biology 2005;50:1585-1600. DOI:10.1088/0031-9155/50/7/018
We present a new ultrasound technique for registering localized temperature changes in soft tissues. Conversely, small temperature changes may be induced in order to image tissue layers. The concept is motivated by the search for a compact, low cost method for guiding noninvasive thermal therapies; however its utility may extend to a wide range of imaging problems such as tumourimaging in the breast. This method combines ultrasound transmission imaging, planar projection techniques and phase-contrast theory. After outlining the theoretical foundation of the technique, its feasibility is tested by simulating localized heating within homogeneous tissue layers. Success of this imaging method is evaluated as a function of the ultrasound-imaging wavelength for a Gaussian-shaped heated region over the frequency range from 0.1 to 2 MHz. Furthermore we simulate two-dimensional image reconstruction from a receiving array. We conclude that thermal phase-contrast imaging in tissues is plausible for detecting the treatment spot in thermal therapies while operating at frequencies below 1 MHz. Additionally, it may also be possible to use the method for noninvasive thermometry. However, thermometry would require operation at higher frequencies at the tradeoff of increased attenuation and higher sensitivity to scattering, which needs to be further explored.
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Clinic Ultrasound Laboratory (クレメント超音波研究室)
Cleveland Clinic (クリーブランド・クリニック),
Lerner Research Institute
Case Western Reserve University
© 2013
For a comprehensive listing see PUBLICATIONS
Clement GT, Nomura H, Adachi H, Kamakura T, Feasibility of non-contact ultrasound for medical imaging, Physics in Medicine and Biology 2013; 58: 6263-6278
Tang SC, Jolesz FA, Clement GT. A Wireless Batteryless Implantable Ultrasonic Pulser-Receiver. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 2011;58:1211-21.
Paltiel HJ, Padua HM, Gargollo PC, Cannon GM Jr, Alomari AI, Yu R, Clement GT. Volumetric ultrasound imaging of tissue perfusion: preliminary results in a rabbit model... Phys Med Biol 2011;56:2183-97.
McDannold N, Clement GT, Black P, Jolesz F, Hynynen K. Focused ultrasound surgery of brain tumors: Initial findings in three patients. Neurosurgery 2010;66:323-32; discussion 332.
Clement GT, Hynynen K. A non-invasive method for focusing ultrasound through the human skull. Phys Med Biol 2002;47(8):1219-36.