Intravascular ultrasound tissue harmonic imaging in vivo

• Published in: IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control Vol. 53; no. 10; pp. 1844 - 1852
• Main Authors: Frijlink, M.E., Goertz, D.E., van Damme, L.C.A., Krams, R., van der Steen, A.F.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2006; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Acoustics; Animals; Atherosclerosis - diagnostic imaging; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical imaging; Biomedical materials; Cardiovascular system; Catheters; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Feasibility Studies; Frequency; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Harmonics; Image Enhancement - instrumentation; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Image quality; Imaging; Imaging phantoms; In vivo; In vivo testing; In vivo tests; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Marketing; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Phantoms, Imaging; Physics; Pressure measurement; Prototypes; Rabbits; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sonar equipment; Surgical implants; Transducers; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonics, quantum acoustics, and physical effects of sound; Ultrasonography, Interventional - instrumentation; Ultrasonography, Interventional - methods; Ultrasound; Human; Ultrasound imaging; Intravascular space; Catheter; Rabbit; Artefact; Harmonic generation; Lagomorpha; Experimental study; Modeling; Natural frequency; Image quality; Tissue; Harmonic imaging; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Second harmonic; Animal; Medical imagery; Feasibility; Circulatory system; Endoscopy; Acoustic image; Hydrophone
• DOI: 10.1109/TUFFC.2006.116
• ISSN: 0885-3010

Tissue harmonic imaging (THI) has been shown to increase image quality of medical ultrasound in the frequency range from 2 to 10 MHz and might, therefore, also be used to improve image quality in intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). In this study we constructed a prototype IVUS system that could operate in both fundamental frequency and second harmonic imaging modes. This system uses a conventional, continuously rotating, single-element IVUS catheter and was operated in fundamental 20 MHz, fundamental 40 MHz, and harmonic 40 MHz modes (transmit 20 MHz, receive 40 MHz). Hydrophone beam characterization measurements demonstrated the build-up of a second harmonic signal as a function of increasing pressure. Imaging experiments were conducted in both a tissue-mimicking phantom and in an atherosclerotic animal model in vivo. Acquisitions of fundamental 20 and 40 MHz and second harmonic acquisitions resulted in cross sections of the phantom and a rabbit aorta. The harmonic results of the imaging experiments showed the feasibility of intravascular THI with a conventional IVUS catheter both in a phantom and in vivo. The harmonic acquisitions also showed the potential of THI to reduce image artifacts compared to fundamental imaging