Compound Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging of Bovine Eye by Using Phase-Inverted Ultrasound Transducer

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Ultrasound Imaging
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Current ultrasound brightness-mode (B-mode) imaging struggles with visualizing internal ocular structures due to low contrast and shallow penetration depth.
• Moisture-rich eye tissues and ultrasound wave attenuation limit the effectiveness of conventional imaging for detecting lesions like cataracts and glaucoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a new ultrasound imaging technique for comprehensive visualization of internal ocular structures.
• To improve contrast and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for better detection of eye pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a phase-inverted ultrasound transducer (PIUT) with a divided aperture, driven by an out-of-phase signal for split-focusing.
• Employed compound acoustic radiation force impulse (CARFI) imaging to enhance image quality and reduce displacement error.
• Applied the technique to visualize the internal structure of ex vivo bovine eyes.

Main Results:

• The CARFI imaging technique successfully visualized the entire internal ocular structure of bovine eyes.
• Achieved a broader depth-of-field (DOF) compared to conventional acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging.
• Demonstrated an approximately 80% increase in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to conventional ARFI imaging.

Conclusions:

• The proposed CARFI imaging technique offers a significant improvement over conventional methods for ocular imaging.
• This technique shows potential as a valuable tool for diagnosing various eye diseases by providing clear visualization of the entire ocular structure.