A new method of ultrasound color flow mapping

Conventional ultrasound color flow mapping systems estimate and visualize only the axial velocity component. To obtain the transverse velocity component a modification of a multiple-beam method is proposed. The new two-dimensional color flow mapping system has a small size and consists of three transducers. The central transducer is an appodized and focused phased array. The other transducers are unfocused probes. Three transducers act as receivers and the central transducer operates as a transmitter. All receivers acquire rf scan lines that are then processed to estimate three axial velocity components using an autocorrelation method. These estimates are then combined to estimate the transverse velocity component, taking into account the geometric relationships among three transducers. Two algorithms for transverse velocity estimation are proposed. The first uses the Doppler angle estimate for calculation of the transverse velocity component. The other algorithm calculates the transverse velocity component directly from the axial components. The accuracy of the flow velocity estimators is estimated by simulations. Analysis of accuracy allows choosing the more effective algorithm for two-dimensional velocity estimation, which is insensitive to variations of the Doppler angle.     

Imaging and quantifying transverse flow velocity with the Doppler bandwidth in a phase-resolved functional optical coherence tomography

The Doppler bandwidth extracted from the standard deviation of the frequency shift in phase-resolved functional optical coherence tomography (F-OCT) was used to image the velocity component that is transverse to the optical probing beam. It was found that above a certain threshold level the Doppler bandwidth is a linear function of flow velocity and that the effective numerical aperture of the optical objective in the sample arm determines the slope of this dependence. The Doppler bandwidth permits accurate measurement of flow velocity without the need for precise determination of flow direction when the Doppler flow angle is within +/-15 degrees perpendicular to the probing beam. Such an approach extends the dynamic range of flow velocity measurements obtained with the phase-resolved F-OCT.     

Doppler angle and flow velocity mapping by combined Doppler shift and Doppler bandwidth measurements in optical Doppler tomography

Accurate estimation of flow velocity requires measurement of Doppler angle, which is not available in general clinical applications. We describe a novel method of direct Doppler angle and flow velocity mapping that uses a conventional single-beam optical Doppler tomography system. The Doppler angle is estimated by combination of Doppler shift and Doppler bandwidth measurements, and flow velocity is calculated from the Doppler shift and the estimated Doppler angle. In vivo study of lip microvascularization demonstrates that this method is capable of providing both flow speed and flow direction information.     

Simultaneous measurement of flow velocity and Doppler angle by the use of Doppler optical coherence tomography

Monitoring blood flow velocity could have great value for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. One of current restrictions to determine flow velocity by the use of Doppler optical coherence tomography (Doppler OCT) is that the Doppler angle should be predefined. However, from a practical point of view, it is not easy to predetermine Doppler angle for a flow beneath the tissue surface. In this work, a novel method for measuring both flow velocity and Doppler angle simultaneously by the use of Doppler OCT is proposed and demonstrated. Based on Doppler spectrum analysis, this technique measures both longitudinal and transverse components of flow velocity by detecting its Doppler shift and Doppler bandwidth to determine velocity and Doppler angle simultaneously. Such a technique extends flow velocity measurement into a broadening practical use of Doppler OCT where Doppler angle would not need to be predefined, for example, blood flow beneath the tissue surface. Therefore, with this technique, Doppler OCT could be applied to more practical diagnoses of microcirculation.     

Speckle tracking for multi-dimensional flow estimation

Speckle tracking methods overcome the major limitations of current Doppler methods for flow imaging and quantification: angle dependence and aliasing. In this paper, we review the development of speckle tracking, with particular attention to the advantages and limitations of two-dimensional algorithms that use a single transducer aperture. Ensemble tracking, a recent speckle tracking method based upon parallel receive processing, is described. Experimental results with ensemble tracking indicate the ability to measure laminar flow in a phantom at a beam-vessel angle of 60 degrees, which had not been possible with previous 2D speckle tracking methods. Finally, important areas for future research in speckle tracking are briefly summarized.     

Invariance of the Doppler bandwidth with flow displacement in the illuminating field.

It is known that if single frequency continuously transmitted ultrasound or electromagnetic energy is reflected from "straight line flow," defined here as one or more scatters moving with constant velocity along an infinite straight line, the Doppler effect will shift the echo spectrum center frequency from the transmitted value, and broaden its bandwidth. It is proved that if such straight line flow is shifted laterally or in range anywhere in the field, i.e., without change of orientation, its Doppler bandwidth remains unchanged. (The "Doppler bandwidth" is here defined as the frequency difference between the extrema of the echo power spectrum.) The theorem holds true even though the time domain echo changes dramatically with motion of the flow path, and is believed to be valid for electromagnetic as well as ultrasound waves. Its implications with respect to flow measurement, as well as preliminary experimental and computational confirmation, will be discussed.     

Measurements of ultrasonic pulse arrival time differences produced by abdominal wall specimens.

The influence of propagation medium inhomogeneities on pulsatile ultrasonic fields has been investigated experimentally. The study employed a special curved transducer to produce a hemispherical wave pulse and a linear array to measure the resulting field along a line in a plane. Translation of the array in the elevation direction yielded data over a two-dimensional aperture. Time delay across the aperture was calculated by adding delay differences obtained by cross-correlating signals on adjacent elements and noting the position of the cross-correlation peaks. Received waveforms were shifted an amount given by the difference between the actual arrival time and a calculated geometric delay to isolate arrival time differences due to propagation path inhomogeneities. Waveform and time delay difference plots as well as histograms and statistics derived from them for propagation through a water path and for propagation through five specimens of human abdominal wall indicate that arrival time fluctuations in the presence of human abdominal wall specimens are significantly greater than for a water path and that degradation in focusing through human abdominal wall can be expected in ultrasonic imaging systems that operate in the low megahertz range and employ a relatively large aperture.     

光学多普勒层析三维矢量测速方法研究

光学多普勒层析术(ODT)是一种高分辨、非侵入的生物医学成像手段,能同时得到组织的结构信息和组织内血管的流速信息.提出了一种新型的基于相位分辨技术的ODT三维矢量测速方法.在ODT系统样品臂的准直镜和聚焦透镜之间加入窄带相位片,形成三个不同的相位延迟,通过计算多普勒频移和不同相位延迟下的多普勒展宽,可得到毛细管内的三维矢量流场分布.对已知浓度的聚苯乙烯溶液进行了一系列不同角度和不同流速的实验,结果证明这种新型的ODT矢量测速方法可以较精确的实现三维矢量流速的测量.     

超声动态向量血流成像的产品化实现

传统超声彩色多普勒成像测量的是血流沿超声传播方向上的速度分量,故无法得到垂直于超声传播方向的血流。向量血流成像是一种更加先进的超声血流成像技术。它不受角度限制,可以直接计算出血流速度的大小和方向。本文总结了现有多种超声向量血流成像技术的特点和发展情况,并从产品化实现的角度分析了各项技术的优缺点。从超声系统发射接收、血流成像、向量速度方向合成、显示等几个方面详述了迈瑞超声向量血流成像技术产品化实现过程中遇到的主要问题及解决方案。实验采用了中科院声学所研制的超声多普勒仿血流体模,通过向量血流成像和脉冲多普勒成像分别测量体模的仿血流速度。将向量血流成像直接计算出来的速度值与脉冲多普勒经过角度校正得到的速度进行对比。在不同条件下,经过多次测量,二者的平均相对误差均在10%以内。     

Flow spectra from spectral power density calculations for pulsed Doppler

Range gated pulsed Doppler can be used to make localized velocity measurements within a blood vessel. Both the transducer and the sample volume are of finite size, and this prohibits the measurement of velocity at a point. A spectral flow profile can be created by stepping a sufficiently small sample volume across the lumen of a vessel. However no such set of spectra will correspond directly to the true velocity profile. In this study we developed a systematic theoretical treatment which allows Doppler spectral power density (SPD) functions to be calculated under a very wide range of conditions. Simulated flow spectra were created from sets of these spectra. The model is based on the beam intensity weighted volume method and incorporates, through the idea of a spread function, Guidi's individual flow line spectrum. Our method can be applied for different spread functions; with beam profiles which are uniform, Gaussian or arbitrarily narrow (needle beam); with range gated sample volumes which can be maximal (CW-type) or minimal (PW-type); and for beams which intersect the flow tube axis, or are off centre. Under all conditions we find the spread function parameter k, equal to the ratio of the central Doppler shift to half the bandwidth, plays a key role. After formulating the model analytically, we sought simplifications to allow results to be obtained from simple, practical formulae. Spread and unspread SPD functions are in most cases given as single integrals which contain measurable physical parameters and can be easily evaluated numerically. Model results are presented for flow spectra of parabolic flow, illustrating the interplay between different factors in determining the appearance of spectral flow profiles.     

Design of ultrasonic wedge transducer

Cones and wedges inserted between an ultrasonic transducer and the specimen provide the transducer (circular or rectangular shape) with enhanced capability for point or line contact with the specimen. Such an arrangement is useful in that the transducer can be used for transmitting to and receiving from a point (or line) source, and that it can eliminate the undesirable aperture effect that makes the transducer blind to waves traveling in certain directions and those of certain frequencies. In this paper, a comprehensive numerical analysis based on a wave propagation model is carried out for the study of characteristics and parameters of cones and wedges influencing their performance. We study the effect of the dimensions, shape and aperture on the frequency response and the angle of incidence of the wave. For computational accuracy and efficiency, the boundary element method is used in the analysis.     

Parameter study of 3D synthetic aperture post-beamforming procedure

A method to increase the image resolution and dynamic range is to use the acquired data from several emissions (lines) and to beamform the collected RF signals treating the focal point in transmit as a virtual source of a spherical wave. The transducer is swept mechanically over the region of interest to scan a full volume. The same beamformation procedure is applied both in the azimuth and the elevation planes. This paper presents a study of the influence of the position of the transmit focus on the image resolution, the signal-to-noise ratio and penetration depth. The investigation is based on simulations and measurements. The system used in this work is a research scanner developed at the department. The transducer is a 7.5 MHz linear array with a pitch of 208 microm and a fixed focus in the elevation direction at 25 mm. The field is simulated for points placed at every 5 mm between 10 and 150 mm depths. Different positions (100) of the transmit focus are investigated. For every transmit focus the image is beamformed and evaluated. Finally the gain in signal-to-noise ratio and penetration depth are investigated experimentally for the setup, with which the best resolution is achieved. Simulations indicate that the size of the point spread function at a depth of 60 mm is decreased from 3 mm to 0.66 mm and from 4 mm to 2.5 mm in the azimuth and elevation planes, respectively. The gain in signal-to-noise ratio measured in a tissue mimicking phantom is 10 dB. The penetration depth increases from 70 to 100 mm. The method can be applied in applications, where the image quality is of prime importance, such as in the classification of atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid artery.     

离心叶轮内三维湍流流场的实验研究

利用多普勒激光测速仪对闭式后弯离心叶轮内三维湍流流场进行了实验研究。叶轮在带有无叶扩压器的通风机内运行。对整个流道内各流面的测点进行了详细的数据采集和统计．由得到的测量结果,分析了叶轮内回转面、径向面上主流速度的分布及发展趋势,气流角由叶轮进口向出口、由压力侧向吸力侧的变化规律、以及叶轮出口处二次旋涡流动等流动特性。     

纳米流体的激光自混频功率谱密度研究

纳米流体运动特性和颗粒参数的测量对纳米流体换热效率的研究具有重要意义。本文将激光自混频技术应用于纳米流体测量中,给出了自混频信号功率谱密度函数的表达式并实验研究其变化规律。研究结果表明,功率谱密度展宽具有佛克脱函数的形式。激光垂直入射流动样品池时,功率谱密度得到展宽,展宽程度随着定向流速的增大或束腰半径的减小而增大。激光倾斜入射流动样品池时,功率谱密度在展宽的同时还伴随多普勒峰移,其位置随着定向流速的增大或散射矢量与定向流速之夹角的减小而迁移至高频。     

Generalized synthetic aperture,focused transducer,pulse-echo,ultrasonic scan data processing for non-destructive inspection

A technique has been developed for processing ultrasonic focused transducer pulse-echo scan data for improved non-destructive inspection of subjects having non-smooth or analytically discontinuous front surfaces. Synthetic aperture focusing, phase shifted average processing is used where the entire inspection field is focused. This development was for two dimensions but is easily extended to three. The method uses finite elements to define the front surface geometry and includes an arbitrarily varying transducer scan path. Transducer tilt angle and synthetic aperture may take on a full range of values. A general computer code has been written to perform this processing and so prepare data for imaging. A test/comparison example is given.     

Measurement of the velocity inside an all-fiber DBR laser by self-mixing technique

The self-mixing interference for optical velocity sensing is experimentally investigated in an all-fiber configuration distributed Bragg reflector laser. Simultaneously, theory model of self-mixing interference laser Doppler velocimeter based on quasi-analytical method. The experimental results show Doppler shift frequency is linearly proportional to the value of the velocity which agrees well with theory analysis. The results preserve an enough signal-to-noise ratio around 40 dB in the range from 39.3–317.0 mm/s (measurement range depending on bandwidth of circuit) for velocity measurement. Additionally, the cutoff circuit is used in our system to get a stable Doppler signal and reduces the error rate to 0.136 % in practical measurement.     

光谱法测量等离子体离子温度和旋转速度

分析多普勒展宽和多普勒频移的区别，讨论了弦积分的线形分布和高斯分布的差异，利用光谱多道分析仪测量了碳227．1nm谱线的线形分布，通过选点拟合得出辐射粒子的离子温度和旋转速度径向分布。     

大张角共焦换能器对振动声成像的影响*

振动声成像是超声成像的一种重要形式,它可以得到包含共焦区组织的弹性信息和声衰减信息的信号,将接收到的信号用于成像即可获得反映组织特性的图像。该文对大张角共焦换能器作用下振动声成像中声辐射力和切变位移进行了理论计算和数值模拟,并通过改变张角变化及频率大小研究其对声辐射力和切变位移的影响。这项工作为大张角共焦换能器在振动声成像中的应用提供了理论支持。     

多普勒展宽和多普勒频移在光谱分析中的应用

分析了多普勒展宽和多普勒频移区别，讨论了高斯拟合和弦积分线形分布的差异。利用多道光学分析仪（OSMA）测量HT-6M托卡马克限制器前Hα线形分布，通过高斯拟合由多普勒展宽和多普勒频移分别得出等离子温度和粒子入射速度。     

M-Mode Color Doppler Ultrasonic Imaging of Vertical Tongue Movement During Articulatory Movement

To observe and estimate the movement of the tongue, ultrasonic investigation is the most harmless real-time monitoring procedure for analyzing articulatory movements. Color Doppler ultrasonic imaging is special in that it can only sample a moving target, and it can indicate the velocity and direction of the target by color and brightness in real time. This study assessed and demonstrated the validity of M-mode color Doppler ultrasonic imaging to observe the movements of the tongue during syllable repetition tasks performed by normal subjects and dysarthric patients, those affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebellar ataxia, Parkinsonism, and polymyopathy. When the transducer was set below the jaw, upward movement was indicated by a blue signal and downward movement was indicated by a red one on the screen of the ultrasound machine. We also measured the velocity of the tongue by contrast scale classified by 15 degrees. Thus, we could observe vertical tongue movement by a color-coded pattern after quantitative analysis. The Doppler signal patterns of normal subjects were verified by simultaneous video x-ray fluorography recordings. The findings for dysarthric patients corresponded well with previously reported features analyzed by other methods. Therefore, color Doppler ultrasonic imaging of the tongue is a useful procedure to researchers for clinical speech and voice studies.