发射端频率复合弹性成像的仿真研究

A Study of Transmit-side Frequency Compounding for Elastography by Simulation

目的 目前,有关频率复合技术能否提高弹性成像的信噪比以及对弹性图像性能的影响尚无文献报道,本研究对发射端频率复合技术应用于弹性成像进行了仿真研究.方法 仿真一50 mm×50 mm含2个圆形硬包容物的组织,2包容物直径均为10 mm且均匀分布在组织中轴线上,其弹性模量均为背景组织的10倍;然后仿真使用3.5,5,7.5 MHz频率探头对该组织区域分别进行准静态压缩弹性成像（组织压缩量为1%）;最后将3.5 MHz和5 MHz,3.5 MHz和7.5 MHz,3.5 MHz、5 MHz和7.5 MHz频率子图像分别进行复合.结果 复合前各子弹性图像的信噪比（SNRe）分别为8.42、9.62、10.73,对比度噪声比（CNRe）为11.35、14.82、18.37,轴向分辨率为9.83、9.82、9.81;复合后图像的信噪比分别为11.82、13.05、19.45,对比度噪声比为22.31、27.63、56.12,轴向分辨率为9.83、9.83、9.83.结论 复合后的图像比复合前各频率子图像的信噪比、对比度噪声比均有明显提高,轴向分辨率几乎没有损失;使用频率复合技术能有效改善弹性图像的性能,证实了发射端频率复合弹性成像技术的可行性.

Objective No reports has been found to date on whether frequency compounding can improve elastographic image signal to noise ratio （SNRe） and how it affects elastogram performance.In this paper simulations investigation was carried out on transmit-side frequency compounding （TSFC）for elastography.Methods 50 mm×50 mm tissue model was simulated with two round hard inclusions of 10mm diameter uniformly distributed along the tissue central axial line,and their elasticity modulus were 10 times of the background.Then simulation of 3.5 MHz、5 MHz and 7.5 MHz probes were introduced to form compression elastography of the double-lesion model by quasi-static compression method （applied strain 1%）.Then,sub-elastograms obtained by the combination of 3.5 MHz and 5 MHz,3.5 MHz and 5 MHz,3.5 MHz and 7.5 MHz were compounded,respectively.Results Before compounding,signal to noise ratio （SNRe） of the various sub-elastograms were 8.42,9.62,10.73,respectively,contrast to noise ratio （CNRe） were 11.35,14.82,18.37,respectively and axial resolutions were 9.83,9.82,9.81.After compounding elastograms,the SNRe were 11.82,13.05,19.45,CNRe were 22.31,27.63,56.12,while axial resolutions were 9.83,9.83,9.83.Conclusion Frequency compounding elastograms have higher SNRe and CNRe than any sub-elastogram before compounding and have no axial resolution loss.The TSFC can improve elastogram performance efficiently and frequency compounding for elastography enhancement is feasible.