Harmonic intravascular ultrasound imaging with a dual-frequency catheter

Recent studies have shown the feasibility of tissue and contrast harmonic imaging with a prototype nonlinear intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) system using a conventional single-element rotating IVUS catheter. In this study, a dual-frequency transducer element was mounted in an IVUS catheter and its second harmonic imaging performance was investigated and compared with that of a conventional IVUS catheter. Hydrophone measurements showed a transmit efficiency improvement of >6 dB for the dual-frequency catheter at 20 MHz. In vitro phantom experiments showed a signal-to noise ratio improvement of >5 dB in second harmonic mode at 40 MHz (H40) with the dual-frequency catheter, when using equal transmit voltage for both catheters. Finally, in vivo experiments were conducted and showed image improvement in H40 acquisitions with respect to the conventional IVUS catheter.

[1]  T. Christopher Finite amplitude distortion-based inhomogeneous pulse echo ultrasonic imaging , 1997, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[2]  Nico de Jong,et al.  High frequency nonlinear scattering from a micrometer to submicrometer sized lipid encapsulated contrast agent. , 2006, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[3]  Shinichi Takeuchi,et al.  Development of Ultrasound Transducer with Double-Peak-Type Frequency Characteristics for Harmonic Imaging and Subharmonic Imaging , 2002 .

[4]  T. Muir,et al.  Nonlinear Effects in Acoustic Imaging , 1980 .

[5]  F. Duck Physical properties of tissue , 1990 .

[6]  M. Hamilton,et al.  Nonlinear distortion of short pulses radiated by plane and focused circular pistons. , 1997, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

[7]  S. Alkoy,et al.  Development of materials and composites for >25 MHz single element transducers , 1999, 1999 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. Proceedings. International Symposium (Cat. No.99CH37027).

[8]  F. T. ten Cate,et al.  Super harmonic imaging: a new imaging technique for improved contrast detection. , 2002, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[9]  Frits Mastik,et al.  Three-Dimensional Palpography of Human Coronary Arteries , 2005, Herz Kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen.

[10]  Paul Lum,et al.  Experimental characterization of fundamental and second harmonic beams for a high-frequency ultrasound transducer. , 2002, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[11]  F. Foster,et al.  A history of medical and biological imaging with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) transducers , 2000, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[12]  Division on Earth Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals , 1996 .

[13]  Carlos H. F. Alves,et al.  Design, fabrication, and evaluation of high frequency, single-element transducers incorporating different materials , 2002, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[14]  A. V. D. van der Steen,et al.  Nonlinear imaging of targeted microbubbles with intravascular ultrasound , 2005, IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, 2005..

[15]  F. Duck Nonlinear acoustics in diagnostic ultrasound. , 2002, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[16]  C. Chin,et al.  Pulse inversion Doppler: a new method for detecting nonlinear echoes from microbubble contrast agents , 1999, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[17]  A F van der Steen,et al.  Elastic and Acoustic Properties of Vessel Mimicking Material for Elasticity Imaging , 1997, Ultrasonic imaging.

[18]  R. Krams,et al.  Intravascular ultrasound tissue harmonic imaging in vivo , 2006, IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, 2004.

[19]  E. Cherin,et al.  Harmonic imaging at high frequencies for IVUS , 1999, 1999 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. Proceedings. International Symposium (Cat. No.99CH37027).

[20]  A. V. D. van der Steen,et al.  Reduction of stent artifacts using high-frequency harmonic ultrasound imaging. , 2005, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[21]  A. Gisolf,et al.  Transducer for harmonic intravascular ultrasound imaging , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[22]  L. Ratsimandresy,et al.  A high bandwidth transducer optimized for harmonic imaging , 2000, 2000 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. Proceedings. An International Symposium (Cat. No.00CH37121).

[23]  V F Humphrey,et al.  Nonlinear propagation in ultrasonic fields: measurements, modelling and harmonic imaging. , 2000, Ultrasonics.