Adaptive beamforming contrast enhanced super resolution imaging for improved sensitivity and resolution in deep tissues

摘要

Ultrasound contrast enhanced super resolution (CESR) imaging, or ultrasound localization microscopy, has recently attracted extensive attention due to its ability to image microvessels at resolutions much smaller than the ultrasound diffraction limit, with the aid of injected microbubble contrast agents. However, to our knowledge, only shallow in vivo images have been presented. This is largely due to the challenge of detecting microbubbles in microvessels in deep tissue, where attenuation substantially degrades the low-amplitude plane wave excitation used for high-frame rate CESR imaging. Therefore, there is a crucial need improve the sensitivity of the imaging system to contrast agents in deep tissues in order to improve the potential clinical translation of this novel imaging approach. We propose a method of adaptive multi-focused-transmit beamforming to overcome this limitation.