Jeremy BERCOFF¹, Jacques SOUQUET²

¹R&D Elastography Lead, SuperSonic Imagine, ²Founder and CEO, SuperSonic Imagine

キーワード :

【Introduction】
Ultrasound imaging is the only true real time medical imaging technique, but today, its frame rate capabilities are limited by the available technology which requires sequential acquisition of images （line by line）.
【Materials & Methods】
Aixplorer relies on a full software-based architecture in which all image lines are acquired and processed in parallel, leading to the concept of ultrafast imaging （several thousands of Hz）. The final image is computed by coherently summing plane images from different angles.
Results:
The number of transmits required to compute an image can be reduced by a factor of 10, without reducing the image quality. This gain in time is leveraged to reach a new level of performance in image quality （Fig）. It also allows the creation of new imaging modes: an ultra-sensitive color flow mode, an ultrafast color flow mode, and quantitative and real time elasticity imaging.
【Discussion】
Technological challenges and opportunities in the implementation of ultrafast imaging will be discussed. This work could represent an important evolution in ultrasound imaging, opening new avenues for ultrasound imaging in breast, prostate or liver diagnostic.
【Figure】
Two examples of modes that have been developed from ultrafast imaging. Left: an ultrafast （2000 Hz） color flow mode allowing full blood characterization on a wide area; Right: A new functional ultrasound imaging mode based on ultrafast technology: quantitative tissue elasticity imaging. Tissue stiffness （in Kpa） is color coded and superimposed on the conventional ultrasound gray scale image.