Pixel compounding: resolution-enhanced ultrasound imaging for quantitative analysis

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2007 Aug;33(8):1309-19. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2007.02.013. Epub 2007 Apr 27.

Abstract

Accurate measurement of structural features represented in medical images is important in clinical trials and patient diagnosis. A key factor for precision is spatial resolution, which in ultrasonic imaging is limited by transducer array arrangements, transmitting frequency, and data acquisition firmware. In this paper, a variation of pixel compounding is proposed to enhance ultrasound resolution using acquired cine loops. The technique operates on a sequence of ultrasound B-scan images acquired with random motion. Subpixel registration is estimated and a maximum a posteriori (MAP) approach with the shift information is used to reconstruct a high-resolution single image. A nonhomogeneous anisotropic diffusion algorithm follows from the estimation process and is implemented to enhance the high-resolution edges. Preliminary tests using simulations and phantom studies show promising results. Pixel compounding can be a powerful preprocessing tool to assure accurate segmentation, measurement, and analysis of ultrasound images.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Anisotropy
  • Carotid Arteries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carotid Arteries / pathology
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Echoencephalography / methods*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Transducers
  • Tunica Intima / diagnostic imaging
  • Tunica Intima / pathology
  • Tunica Media / diagnostic imaging
  • Tunica Media / pathology