Real-time multi-frequency ultrasound imaging for quantitative lung ultrasound – first clinical results

Abstract

Lung ultrasound imaging is a fast-evolving field of application for ultrasound technologies. However, most diagnoses are currently performed with imaging protocols that assume a quasi-homogeneous speed of sound in the volume of interest. When applied to the lung, due to the presence of air, this assumption is unrealistic. Consequently, diagnoses are often based on imaging artifacts and thus qualitative and subjective. In this paper, we present an image formation protocol that is capable of capturing the frequency dependence of well-known artifacts (B-lines) and visualizing it in real time, ultimately providing a quantitative assessment of the signals received from the lung. Previous in vitro studies have shown the potential of B-lines native-frequency for the characterization of bubbly medium, but this paper presents the first results on clinical data. The image formation process has been designed to work on lung tissue, and ultrasound images generated with four orthogonal bands centered at 3, 4, 5 and 6 MHz can be acquired and displayed in real time. Results show that B-lines can be characterized on the basis of their native frequency in vivo and open the way toward real-time quantitative lung ultrasound imaging.

Role of lung ultrasound for the etiological diagnosis of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in children: a prospective study

“…The ultrasound analyzes (vertical artifacts, consolidations, echogenicity, bronchograms, and dynamic data) offered by our study represent a modern view of LUS which, in this way, may represent a new and promising tool to personalize the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and care of children with ALRTI, as recently highlighted by international experts [ 35 ]: during the last decades, LUS moved from being a diagnostic tool (qualitative approach) to a monitoring tool for lung aeration quantification (ie, quantitative approach). Artificial intelligence softwares, since we are entering the era of the digital medicine (a process particularly speed-up by the COVID-19 pandemic), will also support this view [ 36 ].…”

Integrating Domain Knowledge Into Deep Networks for Lung Ultrasound With Applications to COVID-19

“…According to recent developments in LUS [27], [28], vertical artifacts are sonographic signs caused by complex interaction of the multiple scattering phenomena that may form in the presence of an alteration occurring at the lung surface. When forming the LUS frame, the ultrasound signals produced by the multiple scattering events, in case of resonance phenomena, are then interpreted as a bright-vertical-line emitting from the pleural line and aligned along the ultrasound beam axis.…”

Specification and guideline for technical aspects and scanning parameter settings of neonatal lung ultrasound examination

“…Both experience and literatures have shown the result consistency of LUS examination come from experienced operators [24,40].Therefore,to properly leverage the outstanding advantages of LUS in the management of LDNs,we suggest that the protocol and guideline should be carried out by clinicians themselves after they have been adequately trained [40,41].…”

“…Despite these attempts, there is still a significant variation in clinical practice, specifically related to equipment settings, which are often influenced by different manufacture techniques and different settings. Ultimately, all of these aspects affect the accuracy and reliability of diagnosis [23,24]. Therefore, the purpose of this specification and guideline is to define technical parameters for the standardization of neonatal LUS imaging.…”