US 12,437,363 B2
Methods for high spatial and temporal resolution ultrasound imaging of microvessels
Chengwu Huang, Rochester, MN (US); and Shigao Chen, Rochester, MN (US)
Assigned to Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, MN (US)
Appl. No. 17/634,769
Filed by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Rochester, MN (US)
PCT Filed Jun. 15, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/037464
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 11, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/257589, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/039,549, filed on Jun. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0292637 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. G06T 3/4053 (2024.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/06 (2006.01); A61B 8/08 (2006.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G01S 15/89 (2006.01); G06T 3/4007 (2024.01)
CPC G06T 3/4053 (2013.01) [A61B 8/06 (2013.01); A61B 8/0891 (2013.01); A61B 8/469 (2013.01); A61B 8/481 (2013.01); A61B 8/5207 (2013.01); A61B 8/5269 (2013.01); G01S 7/52039 (2013.01); G01S 15/8977 (2013.01); G06T 3/4007 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for high-spatial and temporal resolution imaging of microvessels using an ultrasound system, the steps of the method comprising:
(a) accessing ultrasound data with a computer system, the ultrasound data having been acquired with the ultrasound system from a region-of-interest in a subject in which a microbubble contrast agent was present when the ultrasound data were acquired;
(b) generating microbubble signal data with the computer system by separating microbubble signals in the ultrasound data from other signals in the ultrasound data;
(c) determining a point spread function (PSF) for the ultrasound system used to acquire the ultrasound data;
(d) determining a first Nth power of the microbubble signal data and a second Nth power of the PSF to generate a cross-correlation map between the microbubble signal data and the point spread function of the ultrasound system;
(e) producing a high spatial and temporal resolution microvessel image based at least in part on the generated cross-correlation map.