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Calculus detection for ultrasonography using decorrelation of forward scattered wave

Journal of Medical Ultrasonics volume 37, pages 129–135 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel strategy to detect small calculi efficiently.

Methods

The proposed calculus detection strategy focuses on decorrelation of forward scattered waves caused by the failure of Born’s approximation. A calculus causes waveform changes of transmit pulses, resulting in a decrease in the cross-correlation coefficients calculated from IQ signals scattered near the calculus position. Therefore, we can detect calculi from the appearance of dips in correlation coefficients.

Results

When a calculus exists in a digital tissue map, sharp and deep dips in cross-correlation coefficients between acoustic IQ signals appear around the calculus. By contrast, no apparent dip exists when a tissue map contains no calculus. A scan line interval of 0.2 mm or less is appropriate for the conditions simulated in this paper, and the proper transmit focal range for the proposed method is at a calculus range.

Conclusion

These results imply that the proposed strategy can improve the efficiency of US devices for small calculus detection.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partly supported by the Research and Development Committee Program of the Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine and the Innovative Techno-Hub for Integrated Medical Bio-imaging Project of the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Hirofumi Taki, Takuya Sakamoto & Toru Sato

  2. Advanced Biomedical Engineering Research Unit, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Makoto Yamakawa

  3. Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Shiina

Authors
  1. Hirofumi Taki
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  2. Takuya Sakamoto
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  3. Makoto Yamakawa
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  4. Tsuyoshi Shiina
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  5. Toru Sato
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hirofumi Taki.

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Cite this article

Taki, H., Sakamoto, T., Yamakawa, M. et al. Calculus detection for ultrasonography using decorrelation of forward scattered wave. J Med Ultrasonics 37, 129–135 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-010-0265-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-010-0265-8

Keywords

  • Calculus detection
  • Forward scattered wave
  • Decorrelation
  • Ultrasonography
  • CFAR