Flow estimation using an intravascular imaging catheter

Coronary flow assessment can be useful for determining the hemodynamic severity of a stenosis and to evaluate the outcome of interventional therapy. We developed a method for measuring the transverse flow through the imaging plane of an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheter. This possibility has raised great clinical interest since it permits simultaneous assessment of vessel geometry and function with the same device. Furthermore, it should give more accurate information than combination devices because lumen diameter and velocity are determined at the same location. Flow velocity is estimated based on decorrelation estimation from sequences of radiofrequency (RF) traces acquired at nearly the same position. Signal gating yields a local estimate of the velocity. Integrating the local velocity over the lumen gives the quantitative flow. This principle has been calibrated and tested through computer modeling, in vitro experiments using a flow phantom and in vivo experiments in a porcine animal model, and validated against a Doppler element containing guide wire (Flowire) in humans. Originally the method was developed and tested for a rotating single element device. Currently the method is being developed for an array system. The great advantage of an array over the single element approach would be that the transducer has no intrinsic motion. This intrinsic motion sets a minimal threshold in the detectable velocity components. Although the principle is the same, the method needs some adaptation through the inherent different beamforming of the transducer. In this paper various aspects of the development of IVUS flow are reviewed.     

Directional reception of broadband signals by means of ultrasonic transducer arrays

This paper presents a new approach to the theory and technique of ultrasonic transducer arrays, which makes it possible to obtain their directional beam patterns for receiving broadband acoustical signals.The general formulae were derived for the beam pattern of the array, and as an example the beam patterns of the end-fire array have been computed and plotted, for signals of different correlation function.For experimental verification of the theory the simple processor solution is proposed. This technique is based on spatial/temporal signal processing for beamforming of the directional response of an end-fire array.     

Calculation of radiation acoustical fields from phased arrays with nonparaxial multi-Gaussian beam model

A nonparaxial multi-Gaussian beam model based on the rectangular aperture is proposed in order to overcome the limitation of paraxial Gaussian beam model which losing accuracy in off-axis beam fields. With the method, acoustical field generated by an ultrasonic linear phased array transducer is calculated and compared with the corresponding field obtained by Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integral, paraxial multi-Gaussian beam model, and Fraunhoffer approximation method. Simulation examples show that nonparaxial multi-Gaussian beam model is not limited by the paraxial approximation condition and can predict efficiently and accurately the acoustical field radiated by a linear phased array transducer over a wide range of steering angles.     

Chaos synchronization in semiconductor lasers with polarization-rotated optical feedback

Chaotic oscillations of the transverse magnetic (TM) mode, which is not a common lasing mode, are excited by using polarization-rotated optical feedback from the transverse electric (TE) mode in a semiconductor laser. In our previous paper, we found that the dynamics were strongly dependent on their RF components under the condition of moderate optical feedback from the TE mode to the TM mode and that they were divided into three RF regions; low-pass filtered signals with a lower frequency than the laser relaxation oscillation frequency, intermediate RF components including the relaxation oscillation frequency, and high-pass filtered signals with a higher frequency higher than the relaxation oscillation frequency. Depending on the frequency bands, the laser outputs showed different correlations. In the present study, using such schemes, the polarization-rotated beam from a transmitter laser (i.e., the rotated TE-mode beam of a transmitter laser) is injected into a receiver laser. We experimentally observe chaos synchronization in accordance with the dynamics of RF components on the transmitter laser side. We also perform numerical calculations using a model and obtain good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results.     

Efficient array beam forming by spatial filtering for ultrasound B-mode imaging

This paper proposes an efficient array beam-forming method using spatial matched filtering (SMF) for ultrasonic imaging. In the proposed method, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from an array subaperture with fixed transmit focus as in conventional array imaging. At receive, radio frequency echo signals from each receive channel are passed through a spatial matched filter that is constructed based on the system transmit-receive spatial impulse response. The filtered echo signals are then summed without time delays. The filter concentrates and spatially registers the echo energy from each element so that the pulse-echo impulse response of the summed output is focused with acceptably low side lobes. Analytical beam pattern analysis and simulation results using a linear array show that this spatial filtering method can improve lateral resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio as compared with conventional dynamic receive focusing (DRF) methods. Experimental results with a linear array are consistent but point out the need to address additional practical issues. Spatial filtering is equivalent to synthetic aperture methods that dynamically focus on both transmit and receive throughout the field of view. In one common example of phase aberrations, the SMF method was degraded to a degree comparable to conventional DRF methods.     

Intravascular ultrasound tissue harmonic imaging: a simulation study

Recently, the in vivo feasibility of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) with a mechanically-rotated intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheter was experimentally demonstrated. To isolate the second harmonic signal content, both pulse inversion (PI) and analog filtering were used. In the present paper, we report the development of a simulation tool to investigate nonlinear IVUS beams and the influence of rotation on the efficiency of PI signal processing. Nonlinear 20 MHz beams were simulated in a homogeneous tissue-mimicking medium, resulting in second harmonic pressure fields at 40 MHz. The acoustic response from tissue was simulated by summing radio-frequency (RF) pulse-echo responses from many point-scatterers. When the transducer was rotated with respect to the point-scatterers, the fundamental frequency suppression using PI degraded rapidly with increasing inter-pulse angles. The results of this study will aid in the optimization of harmonic IVUS imaging systems.     

基于时延估计的分裂阵时域波束形成技术

大孔径拖曳线列阵受舰艇横向机动、洋流影响和水动力影响时会产生一定的阵形畸变,阵形畸变使得波束形成时阵列流型失配,进而降低了目标方位分辨率和阵处理的增益。在无法进行阵形估计时,基于时延估计的分裂阵时域波束形成技术将大孔径拖曳线阵分为左右两个子阵分别做波束形成,通过加权广义相关时延估计算法估算对应波束的时延差,再依据估算时延差对左右两个波束进行延时求和得到最终的波束信号。仿真和海试数据证明,相对于全阵直接做波束形成的方法,基于时延估计的分裂阵的时域波束形成技术有效提高了目标方位分辨率和阵处理的增益。     

基于声传播算子的声源定位实验模拟方法研究

声传播算子是一种高效的时域声场计算方法,它能够很方便地计算出给定系统参数下任意时刻任意位置的声场变化情况,本文采用这种方法计算所得的二维房间声场信息进行传声器阵列的声源定位仿真实验。计算结果表明,用该方法获取的阵列数据能有效地应用于阵列信号处理算法中,准确地估计出初始高斯脉冲声源的方向。声传播算子声场计算方法能为传声器阵列声源定位的实验提供方便,使得传声器阵列声源定位算法在不同混响时间的鲁棒性实验研究变得更加简捷。     

Tissue velocity imaging of coronary artery by rotating-type intravascular ultrasound

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides not only the dimensions of coronary artery but the information of tissue components. In catheterization laboratory, soft and hard plaques are classified by visual inspection of echo intensity. So-called soft plaque contains lipid core or thrombus and it is believed to be more vulnerable than a hard plaque. However, it is not simple to analyze the echo signals quantitatively. When we look at a reflection signal, the intensity is affected by the distance of the object, the medium between transducer and objects and the fluctuation caused by rotation of IVUS probe. The time of flight is also affected by the sound speed of the medium and Doppler shift caused by tissue motion but usually those can be neglected. Thus, the analysis of RF signal in time domain can be more quantitative than intensity of RF signal. In the present study, a novel imaging technique called "intravascular tissue velocity imaging" was developed for searching a vulnerable plaque. Radio-frequency (RF) signal from a clinically used IVUS apparatus was digitized at 500 MSa/s and stored in a workstation. First, non-uniform rotation was corrected by maximizing the correlation coefficient of circumferential RF signal distribution in two consecutive frames. Then, the correlation and displacement were calculated by analyzing the radial difference of RF signal. Tissue velocity was determined by the displacement and the frame rate. The correlation image of normal and atherosclerotic coronary arteries clearly showed the internal and external borders of arterial wall. Soft plaque with low echo area in the intima showed high velocity while the calcified lesion showed the very low tissue velocity. This technique provides important information on tissue character of coronary artery.     

Simulation of circular array ultrasound transducers for intravascular applications

The beam shape of a circular array transducer that is commonly used in intravascular ultrasound catheters was investigated in linear mode of operation. For this use, a simulation program which can simulate the radio frequency (rf)-response of a number of scatterers has been developed. The program is based on the impulse response method, which is implemented in the frequency domain. Due to the unusual geometry of the transducer, the far field gets peculiarly shaped for large apertures. Instead of having a far field with its maximum intensity in a single lobe on the acoustical axis, the far field splits up into a dual-lobe far field with maximum intensity in two lobes off the acoustical axis. A formula is derived that predicts the occurrence of these beam shapes.     

Harmonic source wavefront aberration correction for ultrasound imaging

A method is proposed which uses a lower-frequency transmit to create a known harmonic acoustical source in tissue suitable for wavefront correction without a priori assumptions of the target or requiring a transponder. The measurement and imaging steps of this method were implemented on the Duke phased array system with a two-dimensional (2-D) array. The method was tested with multiple electronic aberrators [0.39π to 1.16π radians root-mean-square (rms) at 4.17 MHz] and with a physical aberrator 0.17π radians rms at 4.17 MHz) in a variety of imaging situations. Corrections were quantified in terms of peak beam amplitude compared to the unaberrated case, with restoration between 0.6 and 36.6 dB of peak amplitude with a single correction. Standard phantom images before and after correction were obtained and showed both visible improvement and 14 dB contrast improvement after correction. This method, when combined with previous phase correction methods, may be an important step that leads to improved clinical images.     

衍射极限环光源纵向束流注入非线性优化

下一代同步辐射光源储存环动力学孔径较小,因而束流注入困难,可以通过纵向束流注入解决这一问题。为了使用更长的kicker脉冲,有必要降低高频频率以增加注入束流到储存束流的时移。因为同步辐射运动,时移更长的束流有更高的动量偏差,所以通过该方法进行注入需要储存环提供足够大的能量接受度和动力学孔径。用SSRF-U的候选磁聚焦结构来展示纵向束流注入非线性优化的可行方法。由一系列高频频率的最佳结果可知,低于界限频率时kicker脉冲不会继续增长。在束流模拟中,采用界限频率与合适六级铁强度,可使SSRF-U储存环束流注入达到最高效率。     

The Effect of High Spatial Harmonics in RF Linac

The effect of high spatial harmonics on beam dynamics in a axisymmetric radio frequency linear accelerator (RF linac) is examined. The high spatial harmonics forms the second order ponderomotive focusing for the relativistical particle beam when the transverse motion is averaged over the period of RF structure, the beam transverse envelop equation is obtained including the ponderomotive focusing force which is useful for the design of RF gun and linac. Under a certain of high spatial harmonics coefficients, the high spatial harmonics increase the energy spread due to the stochasitical beam energy diffusion.     

Beam lifetime measurement and analysis in Indus-2 electron storage ring

In this paper, the beam lifetime measurement and its theoretical analysis are presented using measured vacuum pressure and applied radio frequency (RF) cavity voltage in Indus-2 electron storage ring at 2 GeV beam energy. Experimental studies of the effect of RF cavity voltage and bunched beam filling pattern on beam lifetime are also presented. An equation of stable beam current decay is evolved and this equation closely follows the observed beam current decay pattern. It shows that the beam is stable and the beam current decay is due to the beam–residual gas interaction (vacuum lifetime) and electron–electron interaction within a bunch (Touschek lifetime). The estimated vacuum, Touschek and total beam lifetimes from analytical formulations are also compared with the measured beam lifetime.     

Theoretical calculation on distance amplitude curve of ultrasonic phased array

Ultrasonic phased array technology has been gradually applied to industrial nondestructive testing in recent years. The sound field of the focusing and steering beam radiating from the phased array is a nonuniform distribution in the spatial position so that the echo signals of same size defects will be changed according to defect positions. To analyze these defects quantitatively, a model-based method for the distance amplitude correction is proposed for the phased array system. Based on a non-paraxial multi-Gaussian beam model and flaw scattering models, an ultrasonic measurement model for the phased array system is proposed to calculate the echo signals from side-drilled holes at different positions. Furthermore, these model-based distance amplitude curves are compared with the traditional experimental results for different focusing and steering beams. The two methods have a good agreement.     

Finite element modeling and intravascular ultrasound elastography of vulnerable plaques: parameter variation

BACKGROUND AND GOAL: More than 60% of all myocardial infarction is caused by rupture of a vulnerable plaque. A vulnerable plaque can be described as a large, soft lipid pool covered by a thin fibrous cap. Plaque material composition, geometry, and inflammation caused by infiltration of macrophages are considered as major determinants for plaque rupture. For diagnostic purposes, these determinants may be obtained from elastograms (i.e. radial strain images), which are derived from intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurements. IVUS elastograms, however, cannot be interpreted directly as tissue component images, because radial strain depends upon plaque geometry, plaque material properties, and used catheter position. To understand and quantify the influence of these parameters upon measured IVUS elastograms, they were varied in a finite element model (FEM) that simulates IVUS elastograms of vulnerable plaques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IVUS elastography measurements were performed on a vessel mimicking phantom, with a soft plaque embedded in a hard wall, and an atherosclerotic human coronary artery containing a vulnerable plaque. Next, FEMs were created to simulate IVUS elastograms of the same objects. In these FEMs the following parameters were varied: Young's modulus (E), Poisson's ratio (nu) in range 0.49-0.4999, catheter position (translation of 0.8 mm), and cap thickness (t) in range 50-350 microm. Hereby the resulting peak radial strain (PRS) was determined and visualized. RESULTS: Measured static E for phantom was 4.2 kPa for plaque and 16.8 kPa for wall.Variation of E-wall in range 8.4-33.2 kPa and/or E-plaque in range 2.1-8.4 kPa using the phantom FEM, gave a PRS variation of 1.6%, i.e. from 1.7% up to almost 3.3%; for variation in nu this was only 0.07%, i.e. from 2.37% up to 2.44%. Variation of E-lipid in range 6.25-400 kPa and E-cap in range 700-2300 kPa using the artery FEM, gave a PRS variation of 3.1%, i.e. from 0.6% up to 3.7%. The PRS was higher for lower E-lipid and E-cap; it was located at a shoulder of the lipid pool. Variation of nu gave only a variation of 0.17%. Variation of t and E-cap resulted in a PRS variation of 1.4%, i.e. from 0.3% up to 1.7%; thinner and weaker caps gave higher PRS. Catheter position variation changed radial strain value. CONCLUSIONS: Measured IVUS elastograms of vulnerable plaques depend highly upon the Young's modulus of lipid and cap, but not upon the Poisson's ratio. Different catheter positions result in different IVUS elastograms, but the diagnostically important high strain regions at the lipid shoulders are often still detectable. PRS increases when cap weakens or cap thickness decreases.     

基于Labview的快循环扫频信号相位差测量算法实现

为了实现对中国散裂中子源(CSNS)/快循环同步加速器(RCS)射频系统中高频加速电压和束流两个同步变化的快循环扫频信号之间相位差的精确测量,需要选择合适的信号采集方案与相位差测量算法。介绍了常用的同频信号相位差测量算法,讨论了不同相位差测量算法的特点与适用性;详细描述了快速傅里叶变换(FFT)交叉谱法与加余弦窗FFT插值法两种相位差测量算法的原理。为了研究这两种算法在扫频信号测量中的适用性,利用NI的虚拟仪器技术以及Labview图形化编程技术,搭建扫频信号相位差测量系统,对这两种相位差测量算法进行仿真模拟。仿真结果表明,加余弦窗FFT插值算法可以满足快循环扫频信号相位差测量精度的要求。     

双基地多输入多输出虚拟阵列的稳健低旁瓣波束优化技术

双基地多输入多输出(MIMO)系统需要对目标的波达角和波离角进行二维估计,针对高分辨算法中阵列协方差矩阵处理运算量大以及估计性能对阵列流形失配敏感的缺陷,提出了一种基于二阶锥规划的抗阵列流形失配的双基地MIMO虚拟阵列波束优化算法.该方法利用MIMO的波形分集技术与双基地的目标定位解算,通过波达角和波离角在双基地定位椭圆上的对应关系,将双基地MIMO的二维合成方向矢量转化为一维的虚拟阵列流形,并证明了双基地MIMO虚拟阵列的波束图等效为发射波束图在接收阵角度域上的响应和接收波束图的合成.在优化波束图旁瓣的同时,该算法兼顾了固定方向上的相干干扰抑制,并提高了双基地MIMO虚拟阵列波束优化抗阵列流形失配的能力.通过波束图和方位谱优化的仿真分析和水池试验,验证了算法的有效性.     

Direct measurement of the spatial Wigner function with area-integrated detection

We demonstrate experimentally a novel technique for characterizing transverse spatial coherence by using the Wigner distribution function. The method is based on the measurement of interference between a pair of rotated and displaced replicas of the input beam with an area-integrating detector, and it provides an optimal signal-to-noise ratio in regimes when array detectors are not available. We analyze the quantum-optical picture of the presented measurement for single-photon signals and discuss possible applications in quantum information processing.     

Linear analysis of a three-dimensional rectangular Cerenkov maser with a sheet electron beam

A linear theory of a rectangular Cerenkov maser (RCM) with a sheet electron beam is developed by using the field-match method. Based on the three-dimensional beam-wave interaction model proposed in this paper, a hybrid-mode dispersion equation and its analytical solution are derived for the RCM. Through numerical calculations, the effects of the beam-grating gap, beam thickness, current density, beam voltage and waveguide width on the linear growth rate are analysed. Moreover, the performance difference between the RCM with the closed transverse boundary and that with the upper open boundary is compared. The results show that the closed RCM model can avoid the effect of RF radiation on beam-wave interaction, which is more rational for practical applications.