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Principal Investigator: Gregg E. Trahey
Organization: DUKE UNIVERSITY
Fiscal Year: 2024
Award: $468,184
Funding agency: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Abstract
Ultrasonic imaging is widely used to monitor fetal growth and development during the first and second
trimester, and multiple studies document the resultant positive impacts on fetal and maternal
outcomes. However, current methods fail to provide adequate visualization of key structures in many
patients, and alternative imaging modes are rarely available to these patients. We have developed
novel ultrasonic beamforming methods that utilize the spatial coherence of backscattered echoes.
These methods, in simulation, phantom, and blinded-observer clinical studies, show markedly
improved image quality over conventional ultrasonic images, especially in difficult-to-image patients.
We propose extend our theory of coherence imaging to 1.5D and 2D arrays and to very large arrays.
Using such advanced arrays, we propose clinical studies to assess the role of coherence imaging in
key fetal diagnostic tasks in first trimester and second trimester scans. Quantitative image quality
metrics and observer studies are proposed to compare B-mode and coherence images with an
emphasis on difficult-to-image patients for whom current imaging methods fail. Related studies will
measure the contribution of various sources of image degradation in fetal scans. If successful, the
proposed research could lead to a new class of ultrasonic beamforming methods that operate in
imaging environments in which current methods fail.
Terms: <1st trimester><2nd trimester><Abdomen><Abdominal Delivery><Active Follow-up><Affect><Aneuploid><Aneuploidy><Anxiety><Blinded><C section><Cardiac><Cells Placenta-Tissue><Cesarean><Cesarean section><Chronologic Fetal Maturity><Clinical Research><Clinical Study><Clutterings><Congenital diaphragmatic hernia><Counseling><Data><Detection><Developed Countries><Developing fetus><Diagnosis><Diagnostic><Diffuse><Discipline of obstetrics><Early Placental Phase><Echography><Echotomography><Environment><Failure><Fetal Age><Fetal Development><Fetal Growth><Fetal Monitoring><Fetal Structures><Fetal Viability><Fetal health><Fetus><First Pregnancy Trimester><First Trimester><Frequencies><Gestation><Gestational Age><Human><Image><Image Analyses><Image Analysis><Imaging Procedures><Imaging Technics><Imaging Techniques><Industrialized Countries><Industrialized Nations><Life><Location><Maps><Maternal Health><Measures><Medical Ultrasound><Methods><Midtrimester><Modern Man><Morbidity><Morbidity - disease rate><Mothers><Multiple Pregnancy><Multiple gestation pregnancy><Noise><Normal Placentoma><Obesity><Obstetrics><Operative Procedures><Operative Surgical Procedures><Ovary><Over weight><Overweight><Pathology><Patient imaging><Patients><Pelvic><Pelvic Region><Pelvis><Placenta><Placenta Embryonic Tissue><Placentome><Pregnancy><Property><Publishing><Research><Resolution><Role><Scanning><Second Pregnancy Trimester><Second Trimester><Source><Structure><Sum><Surgical><Surgical Interventions><Surgical Procedure><Techniques><Translations><Ultrasonic><Ultrasonic Imaging><Ultrasonics><Ultrasonogram><Ultrasonography><Ultrasound Diagnosis><Ultrasound Medical Imaging><Ultrasound Test><United States><Uterus><Visualization><Woman><active followup><adiposity><comparative><corpulence><cost><developed country><developed nation><developed nations><diagnostic ultrasound><fetal><fetus monitoring><follow up><follow-up><followed up><followup><image evaluation><image interpretation><image-based method><imaging><imaging method><imaging modality><improved><in vivo><intra-uterine growth><intrauterine growth><maternal outcome><mortality><mother outcome><neonate><novel><postnatal><public health relevance><quantitative imaging><resolutions><simulation><social role><sonogram><sonography><sound measurement><surgery><tertiary care><theories><translation><ultrasound><ultrasound imaging><ultrasound scanning><unnecessary treatment><womb>