title: An Integrated System for Superharmonic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging: Design and Intravascular Phantom Imaging Study.
abstract: Superharmonic contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, also called acoustic angiography, has previously been used for the imaging of microvasculature. This approach excites microbubble contrast agents near their resonance frequency and receives echoes at nonoverlapping superharmonic bandwidths. No integrated system currently exists could fully support this application. To fulfill this need, an integrated dual-channel transmit/receive system for superharmonic imaging was designed, built, and characterized experimentally.
  
  
  
  The system was uniquely designed for superharmonic imaging and high-resolution B-mode imaging. A complete ultrasound system including a pulse generator, a data acquisition unit, and a signal processing unit were integrated into a single package. The system was controlled by a field-programmable gate array, on which multiple user-defined modes were implemented. A 6-, 35-MHz dual-frequency dual-element intravascular ultrasound transducer was designed and used for imaging.
  
  
  
  The system successfully obtained high-resolution B-mode images of coronary artery ex vivo with 45-dB dynamic range. The system was capable of acquiring in vitro superharmonic images of a vasa vasorum mimicking phantom with 30-dB contrast. It could detect a contrast agent filled tissue mimicking tube of 200 μm diameter.
  
  
  
  For the first time, high-resolution B-mode images and superharmonic images were obtained in an intravascular phantom, made possible by the dedicated integrated system proposed. The system greatly reduced the cost and complexity of the superharmonic imaging intended for preclinical study. Significant: The system showed promise for high-contrast intravascular microvascular imaging, which may have significant importance in assessment of the vasa vasorum associated with atherosclerotic plaques.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: K Heath
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Mingyue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dayton
authors.forename: Xiaoning
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: K Kirk
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Shung
authors.forename: Qifa
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018511:Systems Integration; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media