High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Ultrasound/Photoacoustic Imaging and Image-Guided Intervention Leveraging Acoustic Reflector
Abstract: Acoustic reflectors have been used in ultrasound imaging devices to change the acoustic wave’s orientation. Previous developments in acoustic reflectors enabled ultrasound and photoacoustic microscopic imaging, as well as handheld co-axial photoacoustic imaging based on clinically available linear array transducers.
In the second chapter of this thesis, I proposed the feasibility of using the acoustic reflector for ultrasound image-guided intervention, where the needle path and the ultrasound image plane are aligned by default. The author also investigated clinical translation for this ultrasound image-guided needle intervention mechanism, by providing solution for device encapsulation and minimization.
In the third chapter of this thesis, I investigated the potential of the acoustic reflector in providing high resolution three-dimensional ultrasound images. Even though synthetic aperture focusing method was used to improve elevation resolution, elevation resolution is still limited by the acoustic lens. To eliminate such a limitation, the author developed a deconvolution-based resolution enhancement method using simulated point-spread-function, which further improved elevation resolution in 3D ultrasound image.
In the fourth chapter of this thesis, the author provided scenarios where the acoustic reflector is used to facilitate imaging device design. An ultrasound computer tomography imaging device was designed to monitor tissue-engineered blood vessels inside the bioreactors. An MRI-compatible transrectal probe was designed based using the acoustic reflector to enable prostate cancer imaging and was used for in vivo tumor imaging; and a wearable ultrasound device was designed based on acoustic reflector for better stability.
Advisor: Professor Haichong Zhang
Committee: Professor Loris Fichera, Professor Yihao Zheng, Professor Iulian Iordachita
Zoom link: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/7187868544