Innovations in three-dimensional ultrafast ultrasound imaging

With extended spatial dimensionality, 3D ultrasound imaging has many advantages over 2D ultrasound imaging, including comprehensive evaluation, accurate quantitative measurement, and less operator dependence. These features have made it an invaluable tool in cardiology, radiology, and obstetrics for prenatal imaging. In addition, when coupled with high temporal resolution, 3D ultrafast ultrasound imaging is essential to amplify the capabilities of emerging advanced ultrasound modes, such as functional ultrasound (fUS), shear wave elastography (SWE), and super-resolution ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM). However, despite rapid development in the past two decades, the clinical translation of 3D ultrasound imaging with high volume rate has been slower than anticipated. This can be largely attributed to the slow scanning speed and low functionality of 1D array-based 3D ultrasound imaging techniques, as well as high channel counts and expensive costs of 2D array-based methods. As a result, a widely accessible, functional, and robust 3D ultrasound imaging solution with high volume rate still remains elusive. This thesis presents innovations to address these limitations and facilitate the application of 3D ultrafast ultrasound imaging. Specifically, a new 3D ultrasound imaging technique, named FASTER (fast acoustic steering via tilting electromechanical reflectors), is proposed to use microfabricated fast-tilting reflectors to rapidly steer acoustic beams in the elevational direction. This method enables high-volume-rate 3D ultrasound imaging based on conventional 1D transducers with comparable imaging quality to conventional, mechanical-translation-based 3D imaging. A FASTER probe clip-on device is introduced to enable swift transformation from 2D to 3D ultrasound imaging with minimal system modifications. Furthermore, a row-column addressing (RCA) array-based 3D SWE with external vibration or acoustic radiation force (ARF) method is presented with fast shear wave imaging speed and ultrafast volume rate. Finally, deep learning (DL)-based adaptive beamforming and phase aberration correction methods are demonstrated to improve imaging quality. Collectively, these innovative methods could significantly enhance the performance, functionality, and accessibility of 3D ultrafast ultrasound imaging and broaden its potential clinical applications.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Dong, Zhijie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Song, Pengfei
• Anastasio, Mark
• Oelze, Michael
• Zou, Jun

• 3d Ultrafast Imaging
• 3d Ultrasound Imaging

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Zhijie Dong

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121352

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F121352