Development of new quantitative ultrasound techniques for medical imaging based on algorithms in the frequency domain (ALFREDO)

This project aims to improve the sensitivity and diagnostic capacity of current ultrasound imaging devices by developing new algorithms for signal processing.

There is an increasing evidence of physical changes in the acoustic properties of tissues produced by certain pathologies, which give us biomarkers. In general, these properties depend on the frequency of the wave, which can provide quantitative information to characterize the tissues. In conventional B-Scan imaging algorithms, these spectral variations are not considered, discarding an important part of the information obtained.

The objective of this project is getting new experimental evidence, knowledge and methodologies in this line of research. For this, we are studying and developing new ultrasound imaging algorithms in the frequency domain to obtain the spectral variation of properties such as reflectivity and attenuation, as well as quantitative statistical considerations on the envelope of the signals. Second, we intend to correlate the results of these algorithms with those physical properties of the tissues that may be relevant in medical diagnosis.

In addition, the project includes the development of high-frequency ultrasound imaging instrumentation based on multi-channel and single-channel scanning technologies.

Development of specific objectives of the project

1. Analysing the performance of known QUS methods, investigating and developing new QUS methods and algorithms involving internal variables of frequency domain beamformers.
    

   

2. Developing ultrasound imaging prototypes incorporating QUS processing methods. Manufacturing of two high frequency ultrasound prototypes: One single-channel scanning platform able to work up to 50MHz and one array-based platform able to work up to 25MHz.
    

   

3. Developing tissue mimics to analyse the QUS method proposed. These tissues may reproduce the acoustic behaviour of biological tissues (for both healthy and pathological examples) to characterize the performance of the methods proposed.
    

   

4. Assessing the improved imaging properties of developed ultrasound systems through experimentation with phantoms.
5. Identifying, contacting and discussing of results with clinical teams corresponding to different specialities to evaluate potential applications of the methodologies developed through following new research projects.