Ultrasound Image Quality Comparison between an Inexpensive Handheld Emergency Department (ED) Ultrasound Machine and a Large Mobile ED Ultrasound System

Abstract Standard diagnostic ultrasound imaging procedures heavily rely on a sonographer for image acquisition. Given the ultrasound probe is manually manipulated by the sonographer, there is a potential for noise artifacts like blurry acquired images caused by involuntary hand movements. Certain surgical procedures can also cause patients to exhibit involuntary “jumping” movements while on the operating table leading to further deterioration in ultrasound image quality. In this study, we attempt to mitigate these problems by fabricating a 3D-printed ultrasound probe holder. Due to the lightweight nature of the device, it can attach to surgical retractors without influencing the functionality of the retractor. Therefore, the 3D printed probe holder not only reduces relative motion between the probe and the patient, but also reduce the need for a sonographer during complex surgeries.

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Diverging beam transmit through limited aperture: A method to reduce ultrasound system complexity and yet obtain better image quality at higher frame rates

Ultrasonics ◽

10.1016/j.ultras.2018.08.016 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 91 ◽

pp. 150-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

B. Lokesh ◽

Arun K. Thittai

Keyword(s):

Image Quality ◽

System Complexity ◽

Ultrasound System

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Phase Constraint Improves Ultrasound Image Quality Reconstructed using Deep Neural Network

10.1109/ius52206.2021.9593647 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hao Zuo ◽

Jingke Zhang ◽

Jianwen Luo ◽

Bo Peng

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Image Quality ◽

Deep Neural Network ◽

Ultrasound Image ◽

Phase Constraint

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Denoising Ultrasound Medical Images

Medical Imaging ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-0571-6.ch031 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 761-775

Author(s):

A.S.C.S. Sastry ◽

P.V.V. Kishore ◽

Ch. Raghava Prasad ◽

M.V.D. Prasad

Keyword(s):

Image Quality ◽

Medical Images ◽

Ultrasound Image ◽

Similarity Index ◽

Speckle Noise ◽

Ultrasound Images ◽

Medical Ultrasound ◽

Soft Thresholding ◽

Block Based

Medical ultrasound imaging has revolutioned the diagnostics of human body in the last few decades. The major drawback of ultrasound medical images is speckle noise. Speckle noise in ultrasound images is because of multiple reflections of ultrasound waves from hard tissues. Speckle noise degrades the medical ultrasound images lessening the visible quality of the image. The aim of this paper is to improve the image quality of ultrasound medical images by applying block based hard and soft thresholding on wavelet coefficients. Medical ultrasound image transformation to wavelet domain uses debauchee's mother wavelet. Divide the approximate and detailed coefficients into uniform blocks of size 8×8, 16×16, 32×32 and 64×64. Hard and soft thresholding on these blocks of approximate and detailed coefficients reduces speckle noise. Inverse transformation to original spatial domain produces a noise reduced ultrasound image. Experiments on medical ultrasound images obtained from diagnostic centers in Vijayawada, India show good improvements to ultrasound images visually. Quality of improved images in measured using peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), image quality index (IQI), structural similarity index (SSIM).

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Inexpensive, realtime tele-ultrasound using a commercial, web-based video streaming device

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1258/jtt.2012.110112 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 185-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Yannis M Paulus ◽

Noel P Thompson

Keyword(s):

Image Quality ◽

Video Streaming ◽

Delay Time ◽

Qualitative Assessment ◽

Web Based ◽

Grey Scale ◽

Standard Resolution ◽

Ultrasound System

We have devised an inexpensive, web-based tele-ultrasound system using commercially-available video streaming equipment. We examined the spatial and grey scale resolution, and the delay time of the system. The receiving PC was tested at various distances from the transmitting site, from 3.2 km to 4828 km. Standard resolution targets and echocardiography movie strips recorded on DVDs were used to assess the image quality. A qualitative assessment was made by an expert sonographer. As the distance between the transmitter and the receiver increased, the scan smoothness decreased and the delay increased. At a distance of 3.2 km the delay was 2–3 s, and at 4828 km it was 10–15 s. The delay was short enough to allow realtime guidance of the scanning technician by telephone. The system allows inexpensive, readily available, realtime tele-ultrasonography.

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