空间频率域超声背散射参量用于骨质状况的评价*

在超声背散射骨质评价中,不同测量感兴趣区域(ROI)的超声背散射信号会有波动,致使诊断准确度降低。该文目的是研究超声背散射信号随测量区域的变化规律。采用空间扫描方法离体测量了35块骨样本,将超声背散射参数从空间域变换到空间频率域。结果表明,超声背散射参数的主要空间频率成分集中于低频部分;空间频率域超声背散射参量最大值(MASF)与骨矿密度等参数具有中高度显著相关性(R2=0.45~0.83,p0.001);空间频率域超声背散射参量衰减系数(AC)也与松质骨密度及结构特征有显著相关性(R2=0.41~0.72,p0.001)。研究表明空间频率域变换方法有助于明确超声背散射信号随测量ROI的变化规律,空间频率域的超声背散射相关新参量评价松质骨状况具有可行性。     

超声背散射法评价松质骨状况的研究

超声背散射法评价松质骨状况及诊断骨质疏松症是近年来医学超声领域内的研究热点之一,现已取得了显著的进展。本文将介绍近年来超声背散射法及其参量评价松质骨状况的研究进展,并分析超声背散射相关参量频谱质心偏移量（SCS）和平均骨小梁间距（TbSp）与骨矿密度（BMD）的相关性。研究结果表明,超声背散射参量与BMD有较高的相关性。最后提出了将来研究中需要努力的方向。     

骨小梁中超声背散射信号的频率分析及其微结构的估计

骨质疏松症是一种骨强度下降的全身性骨骼疾病,骨强度的下降是骨量减少和骨微结构退化的共同结果。相比于传统的超声透射方法,超声背散射法可提供更多的骨微结构信息,而对于松质骨结构的建模能有助于结构信息的获取。本文将骨小梁简化为单圆柱模型(圆柱状的单根骨小梁浸于骨髓中),并基于此模型对超声背散射与频率的关系进行分析。用铝线代替骨小梁做仿体实验,通过实验与理论结果的比较来验证单圆柱模型的可行性。     

超声表观积分背散射系数评价新生儿骨状况的可行性研究

新生儿骨发育状况的超声评价有重要意义。本文研究用超声背散射信号来评价新生儿骨发育状况的可行性。提出将超声表观积分背散射系数(AIB)用于评价新生儿松质骨状况,研究了不同超声频率下AIB与婴儿体重、出生天数之间的关系。研究结果表明,足月儿的AIB明显大于早产儿的AIB;足月儿的体重和AIB相关性较弱;早产儿的AIB参数和出生天数具有较高的正相关性(R=0.633)。说明超声背散射信号及其参数AIB可用于评价新生儿松质骨发育状况。      

基频估计算法研究平均骨小梁间距

超声背散射信号能提供松质骨微结构信息从而能有效的诊断骨质疏松,而平均骨小梁间距(MTBS)是表征松质骨微结构的重要参数之一.本文提出了一种基频估计的MTBS估计算法,对仿真信号和离体牛胫骨松质骨中的超声背散射信号分别进行分析处理,并和现有的两种算法(简易反向滤波跟踪(SIFT)算法和AR倒谱法)进行比较.实验结果表明基频估计算法对噪卢和随机散射回波有更好的鲁棒性,在信噪比较低和随机散射回波幅度较大时估计值更加精确,且有很好的方差性能.充分说明了本文算法是一种有效的MTBS估计算法.     

有监督学习的超声背散射方法在骨质评价中的应用

在超声背散射方法评价骨质的实际应用中,如何更为准确地判断测量对象是否为骨质疏松是一个重要问题。提出一种有监督学习的超声背散射评价方法,根据超声背散射离体实验的信号处理结果,对松质骨样本使用支撑向量机和自适应增强的有监督学习算法进行预测和分类。研究结果表明,有监督学习的超声背散射评价方法分类的准确率为80.00%~82.86%,并且对骨质疏松的样本具有较高的特异性(特异度>92.3%)。因此有监督学习的超声背散射评价方法具有有效性,评价效果优于现有的其它定量超声方法,对超声背散射方法的在体应用有一定帮助。      

超声背散射骨质评价中的频散衰减测量与补偿

超声背散射法已逐渐应用于骨质的评价与诊断.相比于人体软组织,致密多孔的骨组织中超声衰减大,导致接收到的超声信号微弱,频散失真严重.骨组织的超声频散衰减通常由超声透射法测量.然而,透射法测量的超声衰减为传播路径上组织介质衰减的平均值,无法区分软组织、皮质骨及松质骨的衰减效应,无法测量感兴趣区域内松质骨组织的超声衰减.本文旨在研究松质骨超声频散衰减的背散射测量方法,分析补偿超声背散射信号频散失真的可行性.离体测量16块松质骨样本的超声背散射与透射信号(中心频率1 MHz).采用四种背散射方法 (谱移法、谱差法、谱对数差法和混合法)测量松质骨超声频散衰减系数,与超声透射法测量的频散衰减标准值进行对比.结果表明,骨样本超声频散衰减范围为2.3—6.2 dB/mm/MHz,透射法测量的超声频散衰减(均值±方差)为(4.14±1.14) dB/mm/MHz;谱移法、谱差法、谱对数差法和混合法测量的频散衰减(均值±方差)分别为(3.88±1.15) dB/mm/MHz,(4.00±0.98) dB/mm/MHz,(3.77±0.84)dB/mm/MHz,(4.05±0.85) dB/mm/MHz.背散射法测量的频散衰减系数与标准值有较高的相关性(R=0.78—0.92, p 0.01),其中,谱差法(R=0.91, p 0.01)和混合法(R=0.92, p 0.01)测量结果更准确(相对误差小于20%).以上结果说明背散射法测量松质骨超声频散衰减具有可行性,基于傅里叶变换-逆变换原理可以补偿背散射信号频散衰减失真,显著提高信号强度,有利于后续超声背散射骨质评价及成像研究.     

基于单向测量超声背散射系数的晶粒尺寸评价高效方法

镍基高温合金GH4742具有优异的机械性能,而晶粒尺寸是影响其性能的关键因素.基于物理模型的超声背散射法可以实现晶粒尺寸高效和准确的评价,但受限于复杂模型或多角度声束测量.因此,本文提出了一种只需单向测量的背散射系数法,且无需考虑测量系统等无关因素的影响.基于独立散射模型,推导了只与材料相关的背散射系数;利用空间相关函数描述了晶粒尺寸与背散射系数的关系;采用参考信号剔除干扰因素的影响,实现实验背散射系数的快速提取.制备三组不同晶粒尺寸的GH4742试块进行相控阵超声实验和平均晶粒尺寸评价,并与金相法结果进行对比.结果表明本文方法得到的晶粒度与金相法结果最大相对误差为–22.7%,最小相对误差为–3.7%.     

影响单摆振动周期的参数研究

应用振动分析的方法,研究了单摆的周期受摆角、摆球的线度、地球纬度、摆球离地面的高度、介质黏度和介质密度参数的影响;作出了周期比随参数变化的曲线.结果表明:单摆的周期随摆角、摆球的线度、摆球离地面的高度、介质黏度和介质密度的增大而增大,随地球纬度的增大而减小.     

自持铝薄膜的工艺和特性研究

铝薄膜在像管中起重要作用。为了提高像管的性能 ,需要对自持铝薄膜的特性加以研究。利用静电贴膜技术制备了自持铝薄膜 ,测量了 5 0nm厚自持铝薄膜入射面的背散射系数和二次发射系数以及出射面的一次电子透射系数和二次发射系数。对于高能一次入射电子 ,自持铝薄膜的背散射系数很小 ,透射系数很大 ,二次发射系数较小。自持铝薄膜在本质上不影响像管的MTF ,由其出射面发射的二次电子对像管亮度有增强作用     

Effect of trabecular bone material properties on ultrasonic backscattering signals

In this study, ultrasonic backscattering signals in cancellous bones were obtained by finite difference time domain （FDTD） simulations, and the effect of trabecular material properties on these signals was analyzed. The backscatter coefficient （BSC） and integrated backscatter coefficient （IBC） were numerically investigated for varying trabecular bone material properties, including density, Lame coefficients, viscosities, and resistance coefficients. The results show that the BSC is a complex function of trabecular bone density, and the IBC increases as density increases. The BSC and IBC increase with the first and second Lame coefficients. While not very sensitive to the second viscosity of the trabeculae, the BSC and IBC decrease as the first viscosity and resistance coefficients increase. The results demonstrate that, in addition to bone mineral density （BMD） and microarchitecture, trabecular material properties significantly influence ultrasonic backseattering signals in cancellous bones. This research furthers the understanding of ultrasonic backscattering in cancellous bones and the characterization of cancellous bone status.     

Prediction of backscatter coefficient in trabecular bones using a numerical model of three-dimensional microstructure

A model of ultrasonic backscattering for cancellous bone saturated by water is proposed. This model assumes that scattering is caused by the solid trabeculae and describes the cancellous bone as a weak scattering medium. The backscatter coefficient is related to the spatial Fourier transform of bone microarchitecture and to the density and compressibility fluctuations between the solid trabeculae and the saturating fluid. The computations of the model make use of three-dimensional numerical images of bone microarchitecture, obtained by tomographic reconstructions with a 10 microm spatial resolution. With this model, the predictions of the frequency dependence and of the magnitude of the backscatter coefficient are reasonably accurate. The theoretical predictions are compared to experimental data obtained on 19 specimens. An accuracy error of approximately 1 dB was found (difference between the averaged experimental values and theoretical predictions). One limit of the model may come from inaccurate values of trabecular bone characteristics needed for the computations (density and longitudinal velocity), which are yet to be precisely determined for human trabecular bone. However, the model is only slightly sensitive to variations of bone material properties. It was found that an accuracy error of 2.2 dB at maximum resulted from inaccurate a priori values of bone material properties. A computation of the elastic mean free path in the medium suggests that multiple scattering plays a minor role in the working frequency bandwidth (0.4-1.2 MHz). It follows from these results that a weak scattering medium model may be appropriate to describe scattering from trabecular bone.     

Influence of microarchitecture alterations on ultrasonic backscattering in an experimental simulation of bovine cancellous bone aging

An experimental model which can simulate physical changes that occur during aging was developed in order to evaluate the effects of change of mineral content and microstructure on ultrasonic properties of bovine cancellous bone. Timed immersion in hydrochloric acid was used to selectively alter the mineral content. Scanning electron microscopy and histological staining of the acid-treated trabeculae demonstrated a heterogeneous structure consisting of a mineralized core and a demineralized layer. The presence of organic matrix contributed very little to normalized broadband ultrasound attenuation (nBUA) and speed of sound. All three ultrasonic parameters, speed of sound, nBUA and backscatter coefficient, were sensitive to changes in apparent density of bovine cancellous bone. A two-component model utilizing a combination of two autocorrelation functions (a densely populated model and a spherical distribution) was used to approximate the backscatter coefficient. The predicted attenuation due to scattering constituted a significant part of the measured total attenuation (due to both scattering and absorption mechanisms) for bovine cancellous bone. Linear regression, performed between trabecular thickness values and estimated from the model correlation lengths, showed significant linear correlation, with R(2)=0.81 before and R(2)=0.80 after demineralization. The accuracy of estimation was found to increase with trabecular thickness.     

Influence of the precision of spectral backscatter measurements on the estimation of scatterers size in cancellous bone

The goal of this study is to propose a model for the ultrasonic frequency-dependent backscatter coefficient in femoral cancellous bone. This model has been developed with success to predict backscatter in human calcaneal bone [Jenson, Ultr. Med. Biol. 2003]. A weak scattering model is used and the backscatter coefficient is expressed in terms of a Gaussian autocorrelation function of the medium. The backscatter coefficient is computed and comparison is made with experimental data for 37 specimens and for frequency ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 MHz. An excellent agreement between experimental data and predictions is found for both the magnitude and the frequency-dependence of the backscatter coefficient. Then, a nonlinear regression is performed for each specimen, and the mean trabecular thickness is estimated. Experimental data and theoretical predictions are averaged over the 37 specimens. We also find a close agreement between theoretical predictions obtained using the Gaussian autocorrelation function (scatterer size=134+/-15 microm) and the mean trabecular thickness (Tb.Th=132+/-12 microm) derived from the analysis of bone 3-D micro-architecture using high-resolution micro-tomography. However, the correlation between individual experimental and estimated Tb.Th values is moderate (R(2)=0.44). The performance of the estimator are limited mainly by two factors: interference noise due to random positioning of the scatterers and attenuation. We show that the fundamental limitation of our estimator due to the speckle noise is around 5 microm for trabecular thickness estimation. This limitation is lower than the observed biological variability which is around 30 microm and should not be a limiting factor for individual prediction. A second limitation is the tremendous attenuation encountered in highly scattering media such as cancellous bone, which results in highly damped backscatter signals. The compensation for attenuation is difficult to perform, and it may be a critical point that limits the precision of the estimator.     

Ultrasonic backscatter coefficient quantitative estimates from high-concentration Chinese Hamster Ovary cell pellet biophantoms

Previous work estimated the ultrasonic backscatter coefficient (BSC) from low-concentration (volume density <3%) Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO, 6.7-μm cell radius) cell pellets. This study extends the work to higher cell concentrations (volume densities: 9.6% to 63%). At low concentration, BSC magnitude is proportional to the cell concentration and BSC frequency dependency is independent of cell concentration. At high cell concentration, BSC magnitude is not proportional to cell concentration and BSC frequency dependency is dependent on cell concentration. This transition occurs when the volume density reaches between 10% and 30%. Under high cell concentration conditions, the BSC magnitude increases slower than proportionally with the number density at low frequencies (ka<1), as observed by others. However, what is new is that the BSC magnitude can increase either slower or faster than proportionally with number density at high frequencies (ka>1). The concentric sphere model least squares estimates show a decrease in estimated cell radius with number density, suggesting that the concentric spheres model is becoming less applicable as concentration increases because the estimated cell radius becomes smaller than that measured. The critical volume density, starting from when the model becomes less applicable, is estimated to be between 10% and 30% cell volume density.     

Amplitude modulation excitation for cancellous bone evaluation using a portable ultrasonic backscatter instrumentation

The ultrasonic backscatter (UB) has the advantage of non-invasively obtaining bone density and structure, expected to be an assessment tool for early diagnosis osteoporosis. All former UB measurements were based on exciting a short single-pulse and analyzing the ultrasonic signals backscattered in bone. This study aims to examine amplitude modulation (AM) ultrasonic excitation with UB measurements for predicting bone characteristics. The AM multiple lengths excitation and backscatter measurement (AM-UB) functions were integrated into a portable ultrasonic instrument for bone characterization. The apparent integrated backscatter coefficient in the AM excitation (AIB_AM) was evaluated on the AM-UB instrumentation. The correlation coefficients of the AIB_AM estimating volume fraction (BV/TV), structure model index (SMI), and bone mineral density (BMD) were then analyzed. Significant correlations (|R| = 0.82-0.93, p < 0.05) were observed between the AIB_AM, BV/TV, SMI, and BMD. By growing the AM excitation length, the AIB_AM values exhibit more stability both in 1.0-MHz and 3.5-MHz measurements. The recommendations in AM-UB measurement were that the avoided length (T1) should be lower than AM excitation length, and the analysis length (T2) should be enough long but not more than AM excitation length. The authors conducted an AM-UB measurement for cancellous bone characterization. Increasing the AM excitation length could substantially enhance AIB_AM values stability with varying analyzed signals. The study suggests the portable AM-UB instrument with the integration of real-time analytics software that might provide a potential tool for osteoporosis early screening.     

Characterization of dense bovine cancellous bone tissue microstructure by ultrasonic backscattering using weak scattering models

A weak scattering model was proposed for the ultrasonic frequency-dependent backscatter in dense bovine cancellous bone, using two autocorrelation functions to describe the medium: one with discrete homogeneities (spherical distribution of equal spheres) and another, which considers tissue as an inhomogeneous continuum (densely populated medium). The inverse problem to estimate trabecular thickness of bone tissue has been addressed. A combination of the two autocorrelation functions was required to closely approximate the backscatter from bovine bone with various microarchitecture, given that the shape of trabeculae ranges from a rodlike to a platelike shape. Because of the large variation in trabecular thickness, both at an intraspecimen and an interspecimen level, thickness distributions for individual trabeculae for each bone specimen were obtained, and dominant trabecular sizes were determined. Comparison of backscatter measurements to theoretical predictions indicated that there were more than one dominant trabecular sizes that scatter sound for most specimens. Linear regression, performed between dominant trabecular thickness and estimated correlation length, showed significant linear correlation (R(2)=0.81). Attenuation due to scattering by a continuous distribution of scatterers was predicted to be linear over a frequency range from 0.3 to 0.9 MHz, suggesting a possibility that scattering may be a significant source of attenuation.