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。     

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。     

表面粗糙度对固体内部超声背散射的影响

超声背散射法可通过多晶体金属内部的空间方差信号,实现微观结构参数的无损评价,但表面粗糙度对评价模型的精度及实用性存在显著影响.基于高斯声束理论推导垂直入射粗糙界面的纵波声场,以此研究声能的Wigner分布规律;在超声的波长远大于粗糙度的前提下,构造表面粗糙度修正系数,并建立粗糙界面的单次散射响应模型,揭示粗糙度对超声波背向散射的影响规律.用304不锈钢制备轮廓均方根值为0.159μm的光滑试块和25.722μm的粗糙试块开展超声背散射实验,结果表明模型在粗糙度修正前后均可实现光滑试块的晶粒尺寸有效评价,但未经修正的传统模型对粗糙试块的晶粒尺寸评价结果与金相法结果的相对误差高达-21.35%,而本模型的评价结果与金相法结果符合得很好,相对误差仅为1.35%.可见,本模型能有效补偿粗糙度引起的超声背散射信号衰减,从而提高晶粒尺寸无损评价的精度.     

骨小梁材料特性对超声背散射信号的影响

基于时域有限差分法(FDTD)建立了松质骨的超声背散射仿真系统,研究了骨小梁材料特性对超声背散射信号的影响。首次得到松质骨中的超声背散射系数(BSC)和积分背散射系数(IBC)随骨小梁材料参数(密度、拉梅常数、黏度系数及声阻抗系数)的变化关系。研究结果表明,IBC随骨小梁密度的增加而增加;BSC和IBC随拉梅常数的增加而增加、随第一黏度系数的增加而近似线性地减小,第二黏度的变化对背散射信号的影响很小;背散射参数随阻抗系数的增加而减小。说明松质骨中的超声背散射特性不仅受骨矿密度(BMD)和骨微结构的影响,还与骨小梁的材料参数密切相关。研究结果有利于理解松质骨中超声的背散射特性,对松质骨骨质状况的评价有一定帮助。      

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%.     

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。     

超声散斑相关法测量转角的相关性研究

对于在用超声散斑相关法测量时,转角对不同强度散斑的影响及散斑场相关性和转角之间的关系做了研究。为了分析界面位移前后,不同照射区域对散斑振幅是如何影响的,文中把超声照射区域化为M个反射基元,利用大量反射基元的统计规律,推导出了散斑形貌误差和统计误差对散斑场的影响关系,这个关系就是散斑的振幅越大,受转角大小的影响就越小;转角越大统计误差对散斑强度的影响就越大。为了验证这个结论作者建立了实验系统,实验结果显示理论分析是正确的。     

超声轴向传播技术评价长骨的研究

用超声轴向传播技术评价长骨状况已成为近年来的一个研究热点。本文首先介绍了第一到达波(FAS)法、超声Lamb波及柱面导波法在评价长骨皮质骨状况方面的研究进展,最后分析和讨论了当前研究中存在的问题及应该研究的方向。     

基于色差的均方误差与峰值信噪比评价彩色图像质量研究

在图像质量评价模型中加入人眼视觉系统特性能够提高其评价性能．彩色图像色差模型S—CIELAB是在考虑到了人眼视觉系统的空间模糊特性基础上得到两幅图像的色差，该文在S—CIELAB色差模型的基础上，提出了色差均方误差（CD-MSE）和色差峰值信噪比（CD—PSNR）彩色图像质量客观评价参量．对JEPG2000、加白噪音和图像传输中产生位错的三类失真共180幅彩色图像进行了CD-PSNR参量计算，并与国际上已经给出的主观评价结果进行了比较．实验结果表明其客观评价结果与平均主观评价分数具有较好的一致性．     

医学超声研究的一些新进展

1991年12月在美国奥兰多(Orlando)召开的IEEE1991超声年会上有许多医学超声方面的研究报告,反映了当前医学超声研究的一些发展,本文选择几个方面的内容作一介绍。 一、超声背散射显微镜 目前常用的B型超声诊断仪使用的超声频率是3—10MHz,相应的分辨率是毫米级的。近年来许多研究单位研究开发20MHz以上直到100MHz的B型成像系统,其分辨率可达到20μm。由于人体组织     

超声诊断骨质疏松症中松质骨的模型

骨质疏松症(OP)是老龄化社会中影响健康的一个重要问题，超声技术已成为诊断骨质疏松症的一种常用方法。文中综述了近年来用超声诊断骨质疏松症中松质骨模型研究的进展，对棒状模型、流体多孔介质模型(Biot理论)和层状模型(schoenberg理论)进行了分析和讨论，指出了各理论模型存在的缺陷，对下一步的研究工作提出了建议。     

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.     

Numerical investigation of ultrasound reflection and backscatter measurements in cancellous bone on various receiving areas

In this study, new ultrasound reflection and backscatter measurements in cancellous bone using a membrane-type hydrophone are proposed. A membrane hydrophone made of a piezoelectric polymer film mounted on an annular frame allows an incident ultrasound wave to pass through its aperture because it has no backing material. Therefore, in measurements using the membrane hydrophone, the receiving area could be located independently from the transmitting area. In addition, the size and shape of the receiving area, which corresponded to those of the electrode deposited on the piezoelectric film, could be arranged in various ways. To investigate the validity of the proposed measurements, before bench-top experiments, the reflected and backscattered waves from cancellous bone were numerically simulated using a finite-difference time-domain method. The reflection and backscatter parameters were measured on various receiving areas, and their correlation coefficients with the structural parameters in the cancellous bone were derived. The simulated results suggested that appropriate receiving areas for the reflection and backscatter measurements could exist and that the proposed measurements could be more effective for evaluating bone properties than conventional measurements.     

The finite element method for micro-scale modeling of ultrasound propagation in cancellous bone

Quantitative ultrasound for bone assessment is based on the correlations between ultrasonic parameters and the properties (mechanical and physical) of cancellous bone. To elucidate the correlations, understanding the physics of ultrasound in cancellous bone is demanded. Micro-scale modeling of ultrasound propagation in cancellous bone using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method has been so far utilized as one of the approaches in this regard. However, the FDTD method accompanies two disadvantages: staircase sampling of cancellous bone by finite difference grids leads to generation of wave artifacts at the solid–fluid interface inside the bone; additionally, this method cannot explicitly satisfy the needed perfect-slip conditions at the interface. To overcome these disadvantages, the finite element method (FEM) is proposed in this study. Three-dimensional finite element models of six water-saturated cancellous bone samples with different bone volume were created. The values of speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) were calculated through the finite element simulations of ultrasound propagation in each sample. Comparing the results with other experimental and simulation studies demonstrated the capabilities of the FEM for micro-scale modeling of ultrasound in water-saturated cancellous bone.     

Theoretical and experimental study of the ultrasonic attenuation in bovine cancellous bone

In this study a theoretical approach for the estimation of ultrasonic attenuation is proposed. The approach combines two models which take into account both absorption and scattering. Attenuation due to absorption is studied by using the Biot’s analytical model whereas that due to scattering is described by means of a generalized weak scattering model which is formulated for binary mixtures. The scattering model takes account of the density fluctuation of the porous medium in addition to the propagation velocity fluctuation. For the calculation of the attenuation coefficient due to absorption, experimental values have been used to link size of pores to porosity. The theoretical results have been compared with experimental data obtained on bovine cancellous bone samples filled with water. Using an immersion acoustic transmission method, the ultrasonic attenuation has been measured at a frequency range between 0.1 and 1.0 MHz for 12 bovine cancellous bone samples with a porosity range between 40% and 70%. The prediction of attenuation with this model appears to correspond more closely to its experimentally observed behavior. This study indicates that scattering is the predominant mechanism which is responsible for attenuation in trabecular bone. Furthermore, it shows that the density fluctuations contribute significantly to the phenomenon of attenuation and cannot thus be neglected.     

Two-wave behavior under various conditions of transition area from cancellous bone to cortical bone

The two-wave phenomenon, the wave separation of a single ultrasonic pulse in cancellous bone, is expected to be a useful tool for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. However, because actual bone has a complicated structure, precise studies on the effect of transition conditions between cortical and cancellous parts are required. This study investigated how the transition condition influenced the two-wave generation using three-dimensional X-ray CT images of an equine radius and a three-dimensional simulation technique. As a result, any changes in the boundary between cortical part and trabecular part, which gives the actual complex structure of bone, did not eliminate the generation of either the primary wave or the secondary wave at least in the condition of clear trabecular alignment. The results led us to the possibility of using the two-wave phenomenon in a diagnostic system for osteoporosis in cases of a complex boundary.     

Pitfalls in the experimental recording of ultrasonic (backscatter) polar scans for material characterization

The ultrasonic polar scan (UPS), either in transmission, reflection or backscatter mode, is a promising non-destructive testing technique for the characterization of composites, providing information about the mechanical anisotropy, the viscoelastic damping, the surface roughness, and more. At present, the technique is merely being used for qualitative purposes. The limited quantitative exploration and use of the technique can be primarily ascribed to limitations of current theoretical models as well as the difficulty to perform accurate, and more importantly, reproducible UPS experiments. Over the last years, we have identified several potential pitfalls in the experimental implementation of the technique which severely deteriorate the accurateness and reproducibility of a UPS. In this paper, we make an inventory of the most important difficulties, illustrate each of them by a real experiment and present a feasible mediation, either numerical or experimental in nature. Once the experimental set-up is fine-tuned to overcome these pitfalls, it is expected that the recording of high-level UPS experiments, in combination with numerical computations, will facilitate the technique to become a fully quantitative non-destructive characterization method.