TY - JOUR

T1 - Implementation of a versatile research data acquisition system using a commercially available medical ultrasound scanner

A1 - Hemmsen,Martin Christian

A1 - Nikolov,Svetoslav Ivanov

A1 - Pedersen,Mads Møller

A1 - Pihl,Michael Johannes

A1 - Enevoldsen,Marie Sand

A1 - Hansen,Jens Munk

A1 - Jensen,Jørgen Arendt

AU - Hemmsen,Martin Christian

AU - Nikolov,Svetoslav Ivanov

AU - Pedersen,Mads Møller

AU - Pihl,Michael Johannes

AU - Enevoldsen,Marie Sand

AU - Hansen,Jens Munk

AU - Jensen,Jørgen Arendt

PB - I E E E

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - This paper describes the design and implementation of a versatile, open-architecture research data acquisition system using a commercially available medical ultrasound scanner. The open architecture will allow researchers and clinicians to rapidly develop applications and move them relatively easy to the clinic. The system consists of a standard PC equipped with a camera link and an ultrasound scanner equipped with a research interface. The ultrasound scanner is an easy-to-use imaging device that is capable of generating high-quality images. In addition to supporting the acquisition of multiple data types, such as B-mode, M-mode, pulsed Doppler, and color flow imaging, the machine provides users with full control over imaging parameters such as transmit level, excitation waveform, beam angle, and focal depth. Beamformed RF data can be acquired from regions of interest throughout the image plane and stored to a file with a simple button press. For clinical trials and investigational purposes, when an identical image plane is desired for both an experimental and a reference data set, interleaved data can be captured. This form of data acquisition allows switching between multiple setups while maintaining identical transducer, scanner, region of interest, and recording time. Data acquisition is controlled through a graphical user interface running on the PC. This program implements an interface for third-party software to interact with the application. A software development toolkit is developed to give researchers and clinicians the ability to utilize third-party software for data analysis and flexible manipulation of control parameters. Because of the advantages of speed of acquisition and clinical benefit, research projects have successfully used the system to test and implement their customized solutions for different applications. Three examples of system use are presented in this paper: evaluation of synthetic aperture sequential beamformation, transverse oscillation for blood velocity estimation, and acquisition of spectral velocity data for evaluating aortic aneurysms.<br/><br/>

AB - This paper describes the design and implementation of a versatile, open-architecture research data acquisition system using a commercially available medical ultrasound scanner. The open architecture will allow researchers and clinicians to rapidly develop applications and move them relatively easy to the clinic. The system consists of a standard PC equipped with a camera link and an ultrasound scanner equipped with a research interface. The ultrasound scanner is an easy-to-use imaging device that is capable of generating high-quality images. In addition to supporting the acquisition of multiple data types, such as B-mode, M-mode, pulsed Doppler, and color flow imaging, the machine provides users with full control over imaging parameters such as transmit level, excitation waveform, beam angle, and focal depth. Beamformed RF data can be acquired from regions of interest throughout the image plane and stored to a file with a simple button press. For clinical trials and investigational purposes, when an identical image plane is desired for both an experimental and a reference data set, interleaved data can be captured. This form of data acquisition allows switching between multiple setups while maintaining identical transducer, scanner, region of interest, and recording time. Data acquisition is controlled through a graphical user interface running on the PC. This program implements an interface for third-party software to interact with the application. A software development toolkit is developed to give researchers and clinicians the ability to utilize third-party software for data analysis and flexible manipulation of control parameters. Because of the advantages of speed of acquisition and clinical benefit, research projects have successfully used the system to test and implement their customized solutions for different applications. Three examples of system use are presented in this paper: evaluation of synthetic aperture sequential beamformation, transverse oscillation for blood velocity estimation, and acquisition of spectral velocity data for evaluating aortic aneurysms.<br/><br/>

KW - Apertures

KW - Biomedical imaging

KW - Data acquisition

KW - Image color analysis

KW - MATLAB

KW - Ultrasonic imaging

U2 - 10.1109/TUFFC.2012.2349

DO - 10.1109/TUFFC.2012.2349

JO - I E E E Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control

JF - I E E E Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control

SN - 0885-3010

IS - 7

VL - 59

SP - 1487

EP - 1499

ER -