Optimal surface property for three-dimensional echo visualization
Shunsuke Asakura1, Saki Nishikawa1, Kazumasa Orihashi2
1Center for Innovative and Translational Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Japan.
Journal of Medical Ultrasonics (2001)
|October 14, 2017
Summary
Optimizing surface properties in three-dimensional (3D) echo imaging minimizes signal dropout and grating lobes. Appropriate surface profiles enhance reflective planes, improving visualization during off-pump intracardiac surgery.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Surgical Technology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (echo) is crucial for guiding off-pump intracardiac surgery.
- Minimizing echo dropout and grating lobes is essential for optimal surgical guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine the optimal surface property for minimizing echo dropout and grating lobes in 3D echo.
- Investigate the relationship between surface profile and echo signal quality.
Main Methods:
- Examined 13 specimens using 3D echo with rotation from 0° to 90°.
- Recorded en face views in 3D zoom mode.
- Compared brightness changes with surface profiles from microscopic images; analyzed grating lobe size and brightness.
Main Results:
- Echo brightness decreases at large rotation angles depend on the effective reflective plane size.
- Surface profile significantly influences reflection intensity.
- Grating lobe size is affected by reflective plane size variation, not reflection intensity.
Conclusions:
- Appropriate surface profiles can effectively eliminate echo dropout and grating lobes.
- Manufacturing surfaces with adequate reflective surface size at various incident angles is a practical solution.
- Optimized surface properties enhance 3D echo utility in cardiac surgery.
