Clutter-Generating Phantom Material. Part I: Development of a Tunable, Acoustic Clutter-Generating Layer for Use With Ultrasound Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms.
Katelyn Flint, Matthew Huber, James Long, Gregg Trahey, Timothy Hall
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Acoustic clutter is a major source of image degradation for in vivo ultrasound imaging. However, clutter is often not represented in laboratory testing of ultrasound equipment. A phantom material is proposed that can be used to add calibrated amounts of clutter in the laboratory environment.
Methods: Previously, the speed of sound in agar has been adjusted by varying the concentration of propanol to which the agar is exposed. That property was leveraged in this work to create a phantom with an adjustable amount of clutter. Agar spheres were soaked in propanol solution, then strained and placed in mineral oil.
Results: Image quality measurements showed an approximate range of achievable contrast degradation levels of 15 dB. Stability studies with the phantom material showed that it can be stored for at least 21 d after the speed of sound tuning in propanol, but once introduced to mineral oil the clutter will change over time.
Conclusion: This work demonstrates a clutter-generating phantom material that can be used in conjunction with standard ultrasound imaging phantoms.
期刊介绍:
Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology is the official journal of the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. The journal publishes original contributions that demonstrate a novel application of an existing ultrasound technology in clinical diagnostic, interventional and therapeutic applications, new and improved clinical techniques, the physics, engineering and technology of ultrasound in medicine and biology, and the interactions between ultrasound and biological systems, including bioeffects. Papers that simply utilize standard diagnostic ultrasound as a measuring tool will be considered out of scope. Extended critical reviews of subjects of contemporary interest in the field are also published, in addition to occasional editorial articles, clinical and technical notes, book reviews, letters to the editor and a calendar of forthcoming meetings. It is the aim of the journal fully to meet the information and publication requirements of the clinicians, scientists, engineers and other professionals who constitute the biomedical ultrasonic community.