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Ultrasound Imaging and Sensing
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Ultrasound Imaging and Sensing

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 25958

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hyung Ham (David) Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Creative IT Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
Interests: ultrasonic transducers; ultrasound imaging; high-intensity focused ultrasound; cell mechanics; high-frequency ultrasound imaging
Prof. Dr. Chulhong Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical Engineering, Convergence IT Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence, and Medical Device Innovation Center, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Republic of Korea
Interests: bioimaging; photoacoustic imaging; ultrasound imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

Innovative ultrasonic sensors/transducers and novel imaging solutions have made a significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy for various diseases in medical applications. Enhanced spatial and temporal resolutions with deeper penetration made the correct identification of lesions possible. New material and the architecture and composition of ultrasonic transducers such as piezocomposite transducers, single crystal transducers or PMUT (piezoelecrtric micromachined ultrasonic transducers), as well as their integration with imaging systems, are being actively investigated. Advanced imaging techniques including ultrafast imaging, software-based beamforming, elastography and 3D volumetric imaging are being explored.

We kindly invite researchers who are searching for new solutions in ultrasound imaging and sensing to submit their contributions. The suggested research topics include but are not limited to:

    • High-definition, high-speed ultrasound imaging and sensing
    • Photoacoustic imaging
    • Novel ultrasonic sensors/transducers designed for medical applications
    • Preclinical and clinical applications of new ultrasonic imaging/sensing methods
    • Specially designed ultrasonic transducers for advanced imaging solutions
    • Improvement of sensitivity and spatial/temporal resolutions of ultrasound imaging

Prof. Dr. Hyung Ham (David) Kim
Prof. Dr. Chulhong Kim
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 5591 KiB  
Article
Main Uncertainties in the RF Ultrasound Scanning Simulation of the Standard Ultrasound Phantoms
by Monika Makūnaitė, Rytis Jurkonis, Arūnas Lukoševičius and Mindaugas Baranauskas
Sensors 2021, 21(13), 4420; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21134420 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3015
Abstract
Ultrasound echoscopy technologies are continuously evolving towards new modalities including quantitative parameter imaging, elastography, 3D scanning, and others. The development and analysis of new methods and algorithms require an adequate digital simulation of radiofrequency (RF) signal transformations. The purpose of this paper is [...] Read more.
Ultrasound echoscopy technologies are continuously evolving towards new modalities including quantitative parameter imaging, elastography, 3D scanning, and others. The development and analysis of new methods and algorithms require an adequate digital simulation of radiofrequency (RF) signal transformations. The purpose of this paper is the quantitative evaluation of RF signal simulation uncertainties in resolution and contrast reproduction with the model of a phased array transducer. The method is based on three types of standard physical phantoms. Digital 3D models of those phantoms are composed of point scatterers representing the weak backscattering of the background material and stronger backscattering from inclusions. The simulation results of echoscopy with sector scanning transducer by Field II software are compared with the RF output of the Ultrasonix scanner after scanning standard phantoms with 2.5 MHz phased array. The quantitative comparison of axial, lateral, and elevation resolutions have shown uncertainties from 9 to 22% correspondingly. The echoscopy simulation with two densities of scatterers is compared with contrast phantom imaging on the backscattered RF signals and B-scan reconstructed image, showing that the main sources of uncertainties limiting the echoscopy RF signal simulation adequacy are an insufficient knowledge of the scanner and phantom’s parameters. The attempt made for the quantitative evaluation of simulation uncertainties shows both problems and the potential of echoscopy simulation in imaging technology developments. The analysis presented could be interesting for researchers developing quantitative ultrasound imaging and elastography technologies looking for simulated raw RF signals comparable to those obtained from real ultrasonic scanning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultrasound Imaging and Sensing)
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15 pages, 9194 KiB  
Article
Thermal Ablation and High-Resolution Imaging Using a Back-to-Back (BTB) Dual-Mode Ultrasonic Transducer: In Vivo Results
by Hae Gyun Lim, Hyunhee Kim, Kyungmin Kim, Jeongwoo Park, Yeonggeun Kim, Jinhee Yoo, Dasom Heo, Jinhwan Baik, Sung-Min Park and Hyung Ham Kim
Sensors 2021, 21(5), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21051580 - 24 Feb 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4565
Abstract
We present a back-to-back (BTB) structured, dual-mode ultrasonic device that incorporates a single-element 5.3 MHz transducer for high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment and a single-element 20.0 MHz transducer for high-resolution ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound image-guided surgical systems have been developed for lesion monitoring to [...] Read more.
We present a back-to-back (BTB) structured, dual-mode ultrasonic device that incorporates a single-element 5.3 MHz transducer for high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment and a single-element 20.0 MHz transducer for high-resolution ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound image-guided surgical systems have been developed for lesion monitoring to ensure that ultrasonic treatment is correctly administered at the right locations. In this study, we developed a dual-element transducer composed of two elements that share the same housing but work independently with a BTB structure, enabling a mode change between therapy and imaging via 180-degree mechanical rotation. The optic fibers were embedded in the HIFU focal region of ex vivo chicken breasts and the temperature change was measured. Images were obtained in vivo mice before and after treatment and compared to identify the treated region. We successfully acquired B-mode and C-scan images that display the hyperechoic region indicating coagulation necrosis in the HIFU-treated volume up to a depth of 10 mm. The compact BTB dual-mode ultrasonic transducer may be used for subcutaneous thermal ablation and monitoring, minimally invasive surgery, and other clinical applications, all with ultrasound only. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultrasound Imaging and Sensing)
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22 pages, 4574 KiB  
Article
Post-Voltage-Boost Circuit-Supported Single-Ended Class-B Amplifier for Piezoelectric Transducer Applications
by Jungsuk Kim, Kiheum You and Hojong Choi
Sensors 2020, 20(18), 5412; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20185412 - 21 Sep 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3436
Abstract
Piezoelectric transducers are important devices that are triggered by amplifier circuits in mobile ultrasound systems. Therefore, amplifier performance is vital because it determines the acoustic piezoelectric transducer performances. Particularly, mobile ultrasound applications have strict battery performance and current consumption requirements; hence, amplifier devices [...] Read more.
Piezoelectric transducers are important devices that are triggered by amplifier circuits in mobile ultrasound systems. Therefore, amplifier performance is vital because it determines the acoustic piezoelectric transducer performances. Particularly, mobile ultrasound applications have strict battery performance and current consumption requirements; hence, amplifier devices should exhibit good efficiency because the direct current (DC) voltage in the battery are provided to the supply voltages of the amplifier, thus limiting the maximum DC drain voltages of the main transistors in the amplifier. The maximum DC drain voltages are related with maximum output power if the choke inductor in the amplifier is used. Therefore, a need to improve the amplifier performance of piezoelectric transducers exists for mobile ultrasound applications. In this study, a post-voltage-boost circuit-supported class-B amplifier used for mobile ultrasound applications was developed to increase the acoustic performance of piezoelectric transducers. The measured voltage of the post-voltage-boost circuit-supported class-B amplifier (62 VP-P) is higher than that of only a class-B amplifier (50 VP-P) at 15 MHz and 100 mVP-P input. By performing the pulse-echo measurement test, the echo signal with the post-voltage-boost circuit-supported class-B amplifier (10.39 mVP-P) was also noted to be higher than that with only a class-B amplifier (6.15 mVP-P). Therefore, this designed post-voltage-boost circuit can help improve the acoustic amplitude of piezoelectric transducers used for mobile ultrasound applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultrasound Imaging and Sensing)
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Review

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24 pages, 2052 KiB  
Review
Advanced Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging in Cardiology
by Min Wu, Navchetan Awasthi, Nastaran Mohammadian Rad, Josien P. W. Pluim and Richard G. P. Lopata
Sensors 2021, 21(23), 7947; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21237947 - 28 Nov 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4568
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death worldwide. An effective management and treatment of CVDs highly relies on accurate diagnosis of the disease. As the most common imaging technique for clinical diagnosis of the CVDs, US imaging has been intensively explored. [...] Read more.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death worldwide. An effective management and treatment of CVDs highly relies on accurate diagnosis of the disease. As the most common imaging technique for clinical diagnosis of the CVDs, US imaging has been intensively explored. Especially with the introduction of deep learning (DL) techniques, US imaging has advanced tremendously in recent years. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is one of the most promising new imaging methods in addition to the existing clinical imaging methods. It can characterize different tissue compositions based on optical absorption contrast and thus can assess the functionality of the tissue. This paper reviews some major technological developments in both US (combined with deep learning techniques) and PA imaging in the application of diagnosis of CVDs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultrasound Imaging and Sensing)
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24 pages, 12589 KiB  
Review
Mechanically Rotating Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) Transducer: A Review
by Jin-Ho Sung and Jin-Ho Chang
Sensors 2021, 21(11), 3907; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21113907 - 5 Jun 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 9108
Abstract
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a valuable imaging modality for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. It provides useful clinical information, such as lumen size, vessel wall thickness, and plaque composition, by providing a cross-sectional vascular image. For several decades, IVUS has made remarkable progress in [...] Read more.
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a valuable imaging modality for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. It provides useful clinical information, such as lumen size, vessel wall thickness, and plaque composition, by providing a cross-sectional vascular image. For several decades, IVUS has made remarkable progress in improving the accuracy of diagnosing cardiovascular disease that remains the leading cause of death globally. As the quality of IVUS images mainly depends on the performance of the IVUS transducer, various IVUS transducers have been developed. Therefore, in this review, recently developed mechanically rotating IVUS transducers, especially ones exploiting piezoelectric ceramics or single crystals, are discussed. In addition, this review addresses the history and technical challenges in the development of IVUS transducers and the prospects of next-generation IVUS transducers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ultrasound Imaging and Sensing)
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