Signature-based algorithm for improved needle localization in ultrasound images: A feasibility study

Abstract

Ultrasound imaging is commonly used to guide needle insertion procedures, such as biopsies and anesthesia. In such procedures, the needle can be poorly visualized, making it difficult to determine the needle trajectory. A novel needle detection algorithm is introduced based on the unique needle reflection pattern of circular ultrasound waves. The proposed algorithm was evaluated by locating a needle placed in an agar phantom. Circular waves were created using a 5 MHz, curvilinear transducer array. The coordinates of the needle axis were estimated when the angle between the needle and the transducer central axis was varied between 50 • and 90 • . The differences between the radial and azimuth coordinates of the needle estimated using the proposed algorithm and those calculated using computed tomography scan of the phantom were within 0.1 to 0.5 mm and 0.0 • to 3.1 • , respectively.

A hybrid camera- and ultrasound-based approach for needle localization and tracking using a 3D motorized curvilinear ultrasound probe

“…• For curvilinear ultrasound probes, the visibility of the needle is maximal when the transmitted ultrasound beams intercept perpendicularly or near perpendicularly with the needle (Daoud et al, 2011(Daoud et al, , 2015Hacihaliloglu et al, 2015). In our study, we have analyzed the camera-based estimation of the needle axis and the imaging geometry of the 3D motorized curvilinear ultrasound probe to identify VOI Axis that enables high needle visibility.…”

“…Due to the significant mismatch between the acoustic impedance of the metal needle and that of the surrounding soft tissue, ultrasound reflection at the needle surface generates acoustic echoes with high amplitude (Daoud et al, 2015(Daoud et al, , 2011. Therefore, the brightness of the needle is expected to be higher than the surrounding tissue.…”

Infrared needle mapping to assist biopsy procedures and training

“…Biopsy guidance using images has recently been reported [ 8 ], but in the main, biopsy guidance has been limited to conventional ultrasound. Since a common modality for biopsy feedback is ultrasound, it is logical to attempt to locate the biopsy needle using the same modality, though the inherent physical nature of ultrasound presents a different localisation problem [ 9 ].…”

Accurate Needle Localization Using Two-Dimensional Power Doppler and B-Mode Ultrasound Image Analyses: A Feasibility Study

“…Hence, accurate and reliable localization of the needle in curvilinear ultrasound images is an important and challenging research problem. To address this research problem, Daoud et al [ 13 , 17 ] proposed a novel method for localizing the needle in curvilinear ultrasound images. In this method, the elements of the curvilinear ultrasound transducer are employed to generate a circular ultrasound wave, and the pre-beamformed ultrasound radio-frequency (RF) signal received by each individual transducer element is recorded.…”