Evolution of vulnerable carotid plaques are crucial reason for cerebral ischemic strokes and identifying them in the early stage can become very important in avoiding the risk of stroke. In order to improve the identification and quantification accuracy of infancy plaques better visualization techniques are needed. Improving the visualization and quantification of neovascularization in carotid plaque using contrast enhanced ultrasound imaging still remains a challenging task. In this thesis work, three optimization techniques are proposed, which showed an improvement in the sensitivity of contrast agents when compared to the conventional clinical settings and insonation strategies. They are as follows:1) Insonation at harmonic specific (2nd harmonic) resonance frequency instead of resonance frequency based on maximum energy absorption provides enhanced nonlinear contribution.2) At high frequency ultrasound imaging, shorter pulse length will provide improved harmonic signal content when compared to longer pulse lengths. Applying this concept to multi- pulse sequencing (Pulse Inversion and Cadence contrast pulse sequencing) resulted in increased magnitude of the remaining harmonic signal after pulse summations.3) Peak negative pressure optimization of Pulse Inversion and Cadence contrast pulse sequencing was showed to further enhance the nonlinear content of the backscattered signal from contrast microbubbles without increasing the safety limits, defined by the mechanical index.The results presented in this thesis are based on computational modeling (Bubblesim software) and as a future continuation we plan to verify the simulation results with vitro studies.

No description available.

Current research within the field of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) aims at developing capsules which are not only acoustically active, but also have a chemically modifiable surface. This enables use in new areas, including targeted drug delivery and theranostics. For such purposes, air-filled microbubbles (MBs) with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) shell are being studied. Ultrasound imaging velocimetry (UIV) is a technique used to evaluate various types of liquid flows by tracking patterns caused by UCAs across ultrasound images, and has shown great potential for flow measurements in terms of accuracy. The aim of this thesis was to implement a basic UIV program in Matlab to investigate the flow behavior of air-filled PVA MBs being pumped through a phantom, mimicking a blood vessel. The images were acquired using the programmable Verasonics research system by plane wave imaging with coherent compounding, and UIV was implemented as a post-processing technique. Three parameters were varied to study how the UIV performance and flow behavior of the MBs were affected: the concentration of MBs, the flow velocity, and the transducer voltage. The resulting velocity vector fields showed that it is possible to track PVA MBs using the implemented UIV program, and that the concentration 5·106 MBs/ml gave the best results out of the five concentrations tested. The generated velocity vector fields indicated a turbulent and pulsatile flow behavior, which was in line with the predicted flow behavior, although there was a disparity between the measured average flow velocity of the MBs and the predicted flow velocity. It was also observed that the MBs were increasingly pushed in the axial direction with increasing voltage, as according to theory. Even though a more advanced UIV algorithm could improve the accuracy of the velocity measurements, the results show possible use of air-filled PVA MBs in combination with UIV. / Nuvarande forskning inom ultraljudskontrastmedel syftar till att utveckla kapslar som inte bara är akustiskt aktiva, utan som även har en kemiskt modifierbar yta. Detta möjliggör användning inom nya områden, så som målinriktade läkemedel och theanostics. För detta syfte studeras luftfyllda mikrobubblor med ett skal av polyvinylalkohol (PVA). Ultrasound imaging velocimetry (UIV) är en teknik som används för att analysera olika typer av vätskeflöden genom att spåra mönster orsakade av ultraljudskontrastmedel över ett antal ultraljudsbilder. Metoden har visats ha stor potential för flödesmätningar, och hög noggrannhet har uppnåtts. Detta projekt syftade till att implementera ett grundläggande UIV-program i Matlab för att undersöka flödesbeteenden hos luftfyllda PVA-mikrobubblor som pumpas genom en modell av ett blodkärl. Ultraljudsbilderna togs med hjälp av det programmerbara forskningssystemet Verasonics, genom att använda planvågsavbildning och coherent compounding, och UIV implementerades som ett efterbearbetningsprogram. Tre parametrar varierades för att studera hur prestandan av UIV-programmet och flödesbeteendet hos mikrobubblorna påverkades: koncentrationen av mikrobubblor, flödeshastigheten, och spänningsamplituden hos ultraljudsproben. De resulterande hastighetsvektorfälten visade det möjligt att evaluera flödesbeteenden hos PVA-mikrobubblor med hjälp av det implementerade UIV-programmet. Bäst resultat erhölls genom att använda koncentrationen 5·106 mikrobubblor/ml, av de fem testade koncentrationerna. De genererade hastighetsvektorfälten indikerade ett turbulent och pulserande flöde, vilket överensstämde med teorin, trots att det fanns skillnader mellan genomsnittliga uppmätta flödeshastigheter och den beräknade flödeshastigheten. Det kunde också observeras att mikrobubblorna trycktes i den axiella riktningen när spänningsamplituden ökade, vilket överensstämde med teorin. Trots att metodens noggrannhet skulle kunna ökas genom att använda ett mer avancerat UIV-program, visade resultaten på möjligheten att använda luftfyllda PVA-mikrobubblor i kombination med UIV.

Les agents de contraste sont de petites bulles qui répondent non linéairement lorsqu’ils sont exposés à ultrasons. La réponse non-linéaire donne la possibilité d’images échographiques harmoniques qui a beaucoup d’avantages sur l’imagerie fondamentale. Toutefois, afin d’accroître l’échographie de contraste d’imagerie harmonique de performance nous devons d’abord comprendre la propagation non linéaire d’ultrasons. La non-linéarité du milieu déforme l’onde qui se propage, tels que les harmoniques commencent à se développer. La théorie qui a été prévue est la mise en œuvre, qui a permis une nouvelle méthode de modélisation de propagation des ultrasons non-linéaire. La connaissance acquise au cours de ce processus a été utilisée pour construire un deuxième signal à composantes multiples pour la réduction des harmoniques générées en raison des non-linéarités des tissus. En conséquence, la détection d’agents de contraste ultrasonore aux harmoniques a été augmentée. Une puissante technique d’imagerie échographique (Pulse inversion) a été renforcée avec le deuxième signal pour la réduction des harmoniques. Qu’est-ce qui a été appris pendant l’investigation : le pulse inversion technique a donné une nouvelle phase codée, appelée inversion de seconde harmonique. En outre, il a été noté que pour différents types de médias le niveau de distorsion de l’impulsion à ultrasons est différent. Cela dépend en grande partie du paramètre non linéaire B / A. Les travaux sur ce paramètre n’a pas été fini, mais il est quand même important de continuer dans cette direction puisque B / A imagerie avec des agents de contraste ultrasonore a beaucoup de potentiel. / Ultrasound contrast agents are small micro bubbles that respond nonlinearly when exposed to ultrasound wave. The nonlinear response gives possibility of harmonic ultrasound images which has many advantages over fundamental imaging. However, to increase ultrasound contrast harmonic imaging performance we must first understand nonlinear propagation of ultrasound wave. Nonlinear propagation distorts the propagating wave such that higher harmonics appear as the wave is propagating. The theory that was laid down, was allowed implementing a new method of modelling nonlinear ultrasound propagation. The knowledge obtained during this process was used to construct a multiple component second harmonic reduction signal for reduction of their harmonics generated due to the tissue nonlinearities. As a consequence detection of ultrasound contrast agents at higher harmonics was increased. Further more, a powerful ultrasound imaging technique called Pulse Inversion, was further enhanced with multiple component second harmonic reduction signal. What was learned during investigation of the Pulse Inversion, technique lead to a new phase coded ultrasound contrast harmonic method called second harmonic inversion;. Also it was noted that for different type of media the level of distortion of ultrasound pulse is different. It depends largely on the nonlinear parameter B / A. Although the work on this parameter has not been finished it is very important to continue in this direction since B / A imaging with ultrasound contrast agents has a lot of potential.

This work deals with possibilities of ultrasound perfusion analysis for the absolute quantification of perfusion parameters. In the theoretical part of this work are discussed possibilities of using of the ultrasound contrast agents and approaches for the perfusion analysis. New methods for the perfusion analysis are suggested and tested in the practical part of this work. The methods are based on convolutional model in which the concentration of the contrast agent is modeled as aconvolution of the arterial input function and the tissue residual function. The feasibility of these methods for the absolute quantification of perfusion parameters is shown on data from phantom studies, simulations and also preclinical and clinical studies. The software for the whole process of the perfusion analysis was developed for using in hospitals.

This master thesis deals with the contrast agents and their application in the ultrasound perfusion analysis. It is focused on Bolus & Burst method which, as a combination of two approaches that have been used so far, allows an absolute quantification of perfusion parameters in the region of interest. Contrast agent concentration time sequence is modeled as a convolution of the parametrically defined arterial input function and the tissue residual funkction. Thesis discusses different mathematical models of these functions as well as the methods of the parameters estimation. The methods functionality is validated on simulated and also preclinical data.

No description available.

Charakterisierung von Lebertumoren nach kontrastverstärkter Sonographie und digitaler Graustufenbestimmung Ziel: Die Charakterisierung fokaler Leberläsionen ist Bestandteil des klinischen Alltags und für Patienten von therapeutischer und prognostischer Relevanz. Auf diesem Gebiet wurde bisher die native Sonographie regulär eingesetzt. Eine sichere Artdiagnose bei unklaren Lebertumoren ist jedoch nur selten möglich. Die Einführung der kontrastmittelverstärkten Sonographie hat die differentialdiagnostischen Optionen erweitert. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Nutzen des kontrastmittelverstärkten Ultraschalls und der anschließenden digitalen Graustufenanalyse bei fokalen Leberläsionen zu bewerten. Methodik: In einer prospektiven Studie wurde bei 50 Patienten mit CT oder MRT gesicherten Lebertumoren eine Sonographie des Oberbauches in nativer Sonographie und in Phaseninversionstechnik mit intravenöser Gabe des Ultraschallkontrastmittels SonoVue® durchgeführt. Nach Kontrastmittelgabe wurden über 120 s digitale Standbilder akquiriert. Mittels Software ermittelte man den dynamischen Graustufenverlauf für jeden einzelnen Tumor. Es folgte der Vergleich der einzelnen bildgebenden Modalitäten untereinander. Ergebnisse: Der Anteil der artdiagnostisch korrekten Zuordnungen belief sich in der CT bzw. MRT auf 78% und in der nativen Sonographie auf 60%. Mit Hilfe des kontrastmittelverstärkten Ultraschalls konnte er auf 86% gesteigert werden. Die digitale Graustufenanalyse lieferte für die einzelnen Tumorentitäten charakteristische Kurvenverläufe. Hierbei erwiesen sich die Zeitpunkte 20 s und 100 s nach Kontrastmittelgabe für die artspezifische Charakterisierung und für die Differenzierung in benigne und maligne Tumoren als optimal. Schlussfolgerung: Die kontrastmittelverstärkte Sonographie und deren digitale Graustufenbestimmung bilden eine Ergänzung der bisherigen Diagnostik von Lebertumoren und ermöglichen eine bessere Charakterisierung der Herde. Dies sollte in zusätzlichen Studien evaluiert werden. / Characterization of Hepatic Tumors with Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound and Digital Gray-Scale Analysis Purpose: The characterization of liver tumors is of therapeutic and prognostic relevance. Although ltrasound offers the opportunity to detect hepatic tumors, its previous techniques did not lead towards a definitve differentiation. The purpouse of this study was the evaluation of contrast enhanced ultrasound followed by quantitative digital analysis in patients with focal hepatic tumors. Materials and Methods: In a prospective stuy, 50 patients with liver tumors previously detected by CT or MRI were examined by ultrasound of the upper abdomen using conventional and phase inversion technique after intravenous application of an ultrasound contrast agent. Digital images were stored over 120 s and software powerd digital gray-scale curves were produced for each individual lesion. Results: While the percentage of tumors correctly characterised by CT/MRI amounted to 78%, the percentage increased from 60% using conventional ultrasound to 86% using contrast enhanced ultrasound including gray-scale analysis. Typical graphs were achieved for different tumor entities on digital gray-scale analysis. Time intervals at 20 and 100 seconds showed optimal for differantiation between particualar entities. Conclusion: Quantification of contrast enhanced ultrasound is an addition to the previous diagnostic procedure in hepatic tumors. It offers the possibility of an investigator-independent characterization of lesions and should be evaluated in further studies.