High-frequency ultrasonic imaging of the anterior segment using an annular array transducer.
OBJECTIVE
Very high-frequency ultrasound (VHFU; >35 megahertz [MHz]) allows imaging of anterior segment structures of the eye with a resolution of less than 40 microm. The low focal ratio of VHFU transducers, however, results in a depth of field (DOF) of less than 1 mm. The aim was to develop a high-frequency annular array transducer for ocular imaging with improved DOF, sensitivity, and resolution compared with conventional transducers.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Cadaver eyes, ex vivo cow eyes, in vivo rabbit eyes.


METHODS
A spherically curved annular array ultrasound transducer was fabricated. The array consisted of 5 concentric rings of equal area, had an overall aperture of 6 mm, and a geometric focus of 12 mm. The nominal center frequency of all array elements was 40 MHz. An experimental system was designed in which a single array element was pulsed and echo data were recorded from all elements. By sequentially pulsing each element, echo data were acquired for all 25 transmit-and-receive annuli combinations. The echo data then were focused synthetically and composite images were produced. Transducer operation was tested by scanning a test object consisting of a series of 25-microm diameter wires spaced at increasing range from the transducer. Imaging capabilities of the annular array were demonstrated in ex vivo bovine, in vivo rabbit, and human cadaver eyes.


METHODS
Depth of field, resolution, and sensitivity.


RESULTS
The wire scans verified the operation of the array and demonstrated a 6.0-mm DOF, compared with the 1.0-mm DOF of a conventional single-element transducer of comparable frequency, aperture, and focal length. B-mode images of ex vivo bovine, in vivo rabbit, and cadaver eyes showed that although the single-element transducer had high sensitivity and resolution within 1 to 2 mm of its focus, the array with synthetic focusing maintained this quality over a 6-mm DOF.


CONCLUSIONS
An annular array for high-resolution ocular imaging has been demonstrated. This technology offers improved DOF, sensitivity, and lateral resolution compared with single-element fixed focus transducers currently used for VHFU imaging of the eye.
Silverman
Ronald H
RH
Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. ros2012@med.cornell.edu
Ketterling
Jeffrey A
JA
Coleman
D Jackson
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002417:Cattle; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007498:Iris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011817:Rabbits; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography