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Detecting High-Resolution Intramural Vascular Wall Strain Signals Using DICOM Data
William F Weitzel1,2, Brian J Thelen1,3,4, Nirmala Rajaram1,5
1From the Research Service, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
ASAIO Journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs : 1992)
|May 28, 2021
Summary
High-resolution ultrasound strain imaging can now be performed using widely accessible B-mode data, improving diagnosis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. This advancement allows for better monitoring of dialysis vascular access without needing specialized radiofrequency data.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nephrology
Background:
- Maintaining dialysis vascular access is critical for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, yet it presents significant morbidity challenges.
- High-resolution radiofrequency (RF) ultrasound vascular strain imaging shows promise for diagnosing and managing vascular access complications.
- Access to high-resolution RF data is limited for routine clinical use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of detecting high-resolution vascular strain signals using readily available, open-source B-mode ultrasound data.
- To assess if submillimeter tracking resolutions can be achieved with B-mode data for strain imaging.
- To compare strain detection using B-mode data against overall vascular distensibility measurements.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted to detect wall strain signals with tracking resolutions from 0.2 mm to 0.65 mm using DICOM-formatted B-mode ultrasound data.
- Submillimeter tracking results were compared to vascular distensibility as a reference standard.
- The correlation between detected strain signals and reference measurements was quantified using the coefficient of determination (p < 0.05).
Main Results:
- High-resolution strain signals were successfully detected within the vessel wall using standard B-mode DICOM data.
- Tracking resolutions ranged from 0.2 mm (3 pixels) to 0.65 mm (10 pixels).
- The percentage of strain waveforms exhibiting significant correlation (p < 0.05) with reference measurements was high, with most exceeding 90%.
Conclusions:
- It is possible to detect high-resolution vascular strain signals using accessible B-mode ultrasound data.
- This approach broadens the potential investigation and clinical application of ultrasound strain imaging for vascular access.
- The findings suggest B-mode data can support advanced imaging techniques for improved patient management in ESRD.
