scholarly journals A Pseudo-Dynamic Delay Calculation Using Optimal Zone Segmentation for Ultra-Compact Ultrasound Imaging Systems

Electronics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilsu Kim ◽  
Jeeun Kang ◽  
and Tai-Kyong Song
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Imaging Systems ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Image Degradation ◽  
Optimal Method ◽  
Dynamic Power

The implementation of dynamic delay calculations (DDCs) is challenging for ultra-compact ultrasound imaging due to the enormous computation and power consumption requirements. Here, we present an efficient pseudo-DDC method based on optimal zone segmentation (PDC-Optimal), which significantly decreases these requirements relative to an unconstrained DDC method: reductions in flip-flops of 84.35% and in look-up tables of 94.19%, respectively. The reductions lead to an up to 94.53% lower dynamic power consumption and provide image quality comparable to the unconstrained DDC method. The proposed PDC-Optimal method also provides adaptive flexibility between beamforming accuracy and battery life using the delay error allowance, a user-definable parameter. A conventional pseudo-DDC method using uniform zone segmentation (PDC-Conv) presented substantial image degradation in the near imaging field when the same number of zone segments was used. Therefore, the PDC-Optimal method provides an efficient yet flexible DDC solution to improve the experiences for ultra-compact ultrasound imaging system users.

scholarly journals Image quality evaluation of ultrasound imaging systems: advanced B‐modes

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Sassaroli ◽  
Calum Crake ◽  
Andrea Scorza ◽  
Don‐Soo Kim ◽  
Mi‐Ae Park
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Imaging Systems ◽  
Image Quality Evaluation

scholarly journals Towards clinical photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging: Probe improvement and real-time graphical user interface

2020 ◽  
Vol 245 (4) ◽  
pp. 321-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeesu Kim ◽  
Eun-Yeong Park ◽  
Byullee Park ◽  
Wonseok Choi ◽  
Ki J Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
User Interface ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Graphical User Interface ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Photoacoustic Imaging ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Imaging Systems ◽  
Imaging Probe ◽  
Conventional Ultrasound

Photoacoustic imaging is a non-invasive and non-ionizing biomedical technique that has been investigated widely for various clinical applications. By taking the advantages of conventional ultrasound imaging, hand-held operation with a linear array transducer should be favorable for successful clinical translation of photoacoustic imaging. In this paper, we present new key updates contributed to the previously developed real-time clinical photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system for improving the clinical usability of the system. We developed a seamless image optimization platform, designed a real-time parameter control software with a user-friendly graphical user interface, performed Monte Carlo simulation of the optical fluence in the imaging plane, and optimized the geometry of the imaging probe. The updated system allows optimizing of all imaging parameters while continuously acquiring the photoacoustic and ultrasound images in real-time. The updated system has great potential to be used in a variety of clinical applications such as assessing the malignancy of thyroid cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. Impact statement Photoacoustic imaging is a promising biomedical imaging modality that can visualize both structural and functional information of biological tissue. Because of its easiness to be integrated with conventional ultrasound imaging systems, numerous studies have been conducted to develop and apply clinical photoacoustic imaging systems. However, most of the systems were not suitable for general-purpose clinical applications due to one of the following reasons: target specific design, immobility, inaccessible operation sequence, and lack of hand-held operation. This study demonstrates a real-time clinical photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system, which can overcome the limitations of the previous systems for successful clinical translation.

scholarly journals Quantitative Image Quality Metrics of the Low-Dose 2D/3D Slot Scanner Compared to Two Conventional Digital Radiography X-ray Imaging Systems

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1699
Author(s):  
Ahmed Jibril Abdi ◽  
Bo R. Mussmann ◽  
Alistair Mackenzie ◽  
Oke Gerke ◽  
Benedikte Klaerke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Quality Metrics ◽  
Imaging Systems ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Image Quality Metrics ◽  
Spatial Frequencies ◽  
X Ray Imaging ◽  
Quantitative Image

The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative image quality metrics of the low-dose 2D/3D EOS slot scanner X-ray imaging system (LDSS) compared with conventional digital radiography (DR) X-ray imaging systems. The effective detective quantum efficiency (eDQE) and effective noise quantum equivalent (eNEQ) were measured using chest and knee protocols. Methods: A Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends (NEXT) of a chest adult phantom and a PolyMethylmethacrylate (PMMA) phantom were used for the chest and knee protocols, respectively. Quantitative image quality metrics, including effective normalised noise power spectrum (eNNPS), effective modulation transfer function (eMTF), eDQE and eNEQ of the LDSS and DR imaging systems were assessed and compared. Results: In the chest acquisition, the LDSS imaging system achieved significantly higher eNEQ and eDQE than the DR imaging systems at lower and higher spatial frequencies (0.001 > p ≤ 0.044). For the knee acquisition, the LDSS imaging system also achieved significantly higher eNEQ and eDQE than the DR imaging systems at lower and higher spatial frequencies (0.001 > p ≤ 0.002). However, there was no significant difference in eNEQ and eDQE between DR systems 1 and 2 at lower and higher spatial frequencies (0.10 < p < 1.00) for either chest or knee protocols. Conclusion: The LDSS imaging system performed well compared to the DR systems. Thus, we have demonstrated that the LDSS imaging system has the potential to be used for clinical diagnostic purposes.

scholarly journals Impact of Aperture, Depth, and Acoustic Clutter on the Performance of Coherent Multi-Transducer Ultrasound Imaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7655
Author(s):  
Laura Peralta ◽  
Alessandro Ramalli ◽  
Michael Reinwald ◽  
Robert J. Eckersley ◽  
Joseph V. Hajnal
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Single Probe ◽  
Deep Imaging ◽  
Effective Aperture ◽  
Imaging Performance ◽  
Image Performance ◽  
Higher Sensitivity

Transducers with a larger aperture size are desirable in ultrasound imaging to improve resolution and image quality. A coherent multi-transducer ultrasound imaging system (CoMTUS) enables an extended effective aperture through the coherent combination of multiple transducers. In this study, the discontinuous extended aperture created by CoMTUS and its performance for deep imaging and through layered media are investigated by both simulations and experiments. Typical image quality metrics—resolution, contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio—are evaluated and compared with a standard single probe imaging system. Results suggest that the image performance of CoMTUS depends on the relative spatial location of the arrays. The resulting effective aperture significantly improves resolution, while the separation between the arrays may degrade contrast. For a limited gap in the effective aperture (less than a few centimetres), CoMTUS provides benefits to image quality compared to the standard single probe imaging system. Overall, CoMTUS shows higher sensitivity and reduced loss of resolution with imaging depth. In general, CoMTUS imaging performance was unaffected when imaging through a layered medium with different speed of sound values and resolution improved up to 80% at large imaging depths.

scholarly journals Power Control Technique Using Error Distribution Analysis for Ultrasound Imaging Displays

Electronics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 471
Author(s):  
Sung In Cho ◽  
Suk-Ju Kang
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Power Control ◽  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Computation Time ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Error Distribution ◽  
Control Technique ◽  
Distribution Analysis ◽  
Optimal Point

In this paper, a new power control technique based on clipped error distribution is proposed for portable ultrasound imaging displays. To reduce the display power consumption, the backlight dimming is used to select the optimal point between the power reduction of a backlight and the high image quality. In this case, the clipped error, i.e., the saturation error for pixels exceeding the maximum expressible gray level, should be considered. Conventional algorithms do not consider the clipped error distribution, which is the spatial distribution of pixels with the clipped error in a frame image when the power consumption is reduced. Therefore, it degrades the image quality in the medical display. On the other hand, the proposed algorithm calculates statistical values for clipped error distribution by analyzing the image characteristics. Hence, it can avoid degradation of the image quality by concentrating the pixels with clipped errors in a small region. In addition, the proposed algorithm uses a sampling technique, which only uses selected pixels based on the pre-defined sampling pattern, to reduce the computation time. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can improve the image quality in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio by up to 7.063 dB (23.49%) while reducing the computation time by up to 0.451 μs (17.18%) using a sampling technique.

scholarly journals Visual Evaluation of Image Quality of a Low Dose 2D/3D Slot Scanner Imaging System Compared to Two Conventional Digital Radiography X-ray Imaging Systems

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1932
Author(s):  
Ahmed Jibril Abdi ◽  
Bo Mussmann ◽  
Alistair Mackenzie ◽  
Oke Gerke ◽  
Gitte Maria Jørgensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Effective Dose ◽  
Digital Radiography ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Weighted Kappa ◽  
Imaging Systems ◽  
Human Observer ◽  
Intraobserver Agreement

The purpose of this study was to assess the image quality of the low dose 2D/3D slot scanner (LDSS) imaging system compared to conventional digital radiography (DR) imaging systems. Visual image quality was assessed using the visual grading analysis (VGA) method. This method is a subjective approach that uses a human observer to evaluate and optimise radiographic images for different imaging technologies. Methods and materials: ten posterior-anterior (PA) and ten lateral (LAT) images of a chest anthropomorphic phantoms and a knee phantom were acquired by an LDSS imaging system and two conventional DR imaging systems. The images were shown in random order to three (chest) radiologists and three experienced (knee) radiographers, who scored the images against a number of criteria. Inter- and intraobserver agreement was assessed using Fleiss’ kappa and weighted kappa. Results: the statistical comparison of the agreement between the observers showed good interobserver agreement, with Fleiss’ kappa coefficients of 0.27–0.63 and 0.23–0.45 for the chest and knee protocols, respectively. Comparison of intraobserver agreement also showed good agreement with weighted kappa coefficients of 0.27–0.63 and 0.23–0.45 for the chest and knee protocols, respectively. The LDSS imaging system achieved significantly higher VGA image quality compared to the DR imaging systems in the AP and LAT chest protocols (p < 0.001). However, the LDSS imaging system achieved lower image quality than one DR system (p ≤ 0.016) and equivalent image quality to the other DR systems (p ≤ 0.27) in the knee protocol. The LDSS imaging system achieved effective dose savings of 33–52% for the chest protocol and 30–35% for the knee protocol compared with DR systems. Conclusions: this work has shown that the LDSS imaging system has the potential to acquire chest and knee images at diagnostic quality and at a lower effective dose than DR systems.

Investigation and Analysis of Ultrasound Imaging Based on Linear CMUT Array

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (08) ◽  
pp. 1957004
Author(s):  
Hongliang Wang ◽  
Jiao Qu ◽  
Xiangjun Wang ◽  
Changde He ◽  
Chenyang Xue
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Microelectromechanical Systems ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Imaging Systems ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Imaging Methods ◽  
Array Imaging

In the next generation of ultrasound imaging systems, Capacitive micromachined ultasonic transducer (CMUT) based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is a promising research direction of transducers, which has wide application prospects. In this paper, based on the study of three imaging methods, including classical phased array (CPA) imaging, classical synthetic aperture (CSA) imaging and phased subarray (PSA) imaging, several different imaging schemes are designed for linear CMUT array, after that the performances of these imaging schemes are compared and analyzed. The effects of the three imaging methods are verified and analyzed based on the linear CMUT array. Through analysis, it is found that the image quality of the classical phased array imaging method is the best, the imaging quality of the above three imaging methods can be effectively improved by adopting the amplitude apodization and dynamic focusing method. The research results in this paper will provide theoretical basis and application reference for the design of ultrasonic imaging system based on linear CMUT array in the future.

scholarly journals Dynamic Power Optimization of 32 Bit MIPS Processor Using Clock Gating For Low Power Applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 5936-5941
Keyword(s):  
Power Consumption ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Digital Design ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Clock Gating ◽  
Dynamic Power ◽  
Total Power Consumption ◽  
Static Power ◽  
Major Factors

The demand for low power processor is increasing day by day in mobile application for video, audio, mixed signal processing, gaming console and battery-operated electronic devices. Power consumption is the main issue in batter operated devices which constantly reduces battery life. Compared to static power Dynamic power yields more power consumption in digital design. Clock power is one of the major factors in total power consumption which results in high dynamic power consumption. In this paper, a 32-bit MIPS processor is designed to maximize the performance while considering the battery life of the device. Clock gating and data gating method is adopted in this paper and to reduce dynamic power. This design is implemented on 28nm kintex-7 FPGA Board and power is analyzed

Optimal design of a high homogeneous and small-size shim coil for atomic spin gyroscope based on 0-1 linear programming

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 165-172
Author(s):  
Dongge Deng ◽  
Mingzhi Zhu ◽  
Qiang Shu ◽  
Baoxu Wang ◽  
Fei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Linear Programming ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Optimization Design ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Axial Position ◽  
Low Power Consumption ◽  
Optimal Method ◽  
Atomic Spin ◽  
Shim Coil

It is necessary to develop a high homogeneous, low power consumption, high frequency and small-size shim coil for high precision and low-cost atomic spin gyroscope (ASG). To provide the shim coil, a multi-objective optimization design method is proposed. All structural parameters including the wire diameter are optimized. In addition to the homogeneity, the size of optimized coil, especially the axial position and winding number, is restricted to develop the small-size shim coil with low power consumption. The 0-1 linear programming is adopted in the optimal model to conveniently describe winding distributions. The branch and bound algorithm is used to solve this model. Theoretical optimization results show that the homogeneity of the optimized shim coil is several orders of magnitudes better than the same-size solenoid. A simulation experiment is also conducted. Experimental results show that optimization results are verified, and power consumption of the optimized coil is about half of the solenoid when providing the same uniform magnetic field. This indicates that the proposed optimal method is feasible to develop shim coil for ASG.

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