Concentric-ring arrays for forward-viewing ultrasound imaging

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Ultrasound Technology
• Surgical Navigation

Background:

• Conventional ultrasound (US)-guided needle insertions demand specialized skills due to the cognitive load of managing 3D spatial relationships from 2D images.
• Clinicians must mentally track the probe, needle, and target, complicating procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a forward-viewing ultrasound imaging system with a ring array configuration.
• To enable intuitive needle interventions without complex tool-target registration.
• To assess the feasibility and optimize design parameters for this new US imaging approach.

Main Methods:

• Investigated design parameters of a center-open ring array configuration, including hole radius and transducer element arrangement.
• Evaluated image quality and visualization capabilities of the forward-viewing US system.
• Focused on optimizing parameters for improved target visibility and shallow depth imaging.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated successful visualization with a center hole in transducer elements.
• Confirmed that increasing ring layers and transducer elements enhances target visibility.
• Showed that reducing the center hole radius improves image quality at shallow depths.

Conclusions:

• Forward-viewing ultrasound imaging with a ring array configuration offers a promising alternative to conventional methods.
• The system provides simpler, more intuitive guidance for needle interventions.
• Further development could significantly enhance the safety and efficacy of US-guided procedures.