Blood Flow Velocity Estimation Method Based on Multi-Frequency Pulse Sampling

doi:10.12141/j.issn.1000-565X.230628

Abstract

Abstract:

The traditional dual-mode ultrasound technology has greater potential for wearable implementation compared to the other emerging technologies. During pulse Doppler blood flow velocity estimation, dual-mode ultrasound needs to emit B-mode pulses simultaneously for imaging localization, which requires that B-mode pulses and Doppler pulses share sampling time. This issue can be addressed by using a sparse interval emission method based on single-frequency Doppler pulses. However, common sparse emission arrangements (such as nested emission, coprime emission, etc.) have the disadvantage of a long sampling time window. Especially, there is the problem of insufficient temporal resolution with significant changes in blood flow velocity. In addition, a longer time window contains more blood flow velocity components, which is prone to artifacts caused by sparse sampling, thereby affecting the accuracy of blood flow velocity estimation. Therefore, this paper proposed a novel blood flow velocity estimation method based on multi-frequency pulse sampling. Firstly, a multi-frequency pulse sampling echo model was constructed and derived. It is proved that under the assumption of stationary frequency band attenuation, this mathematical model is equivalent to the spare interval emission method of single-frequency Doppler pulses. That is, the multi-frequency pulse sampling can achieve performance similar to that of the long time window of the single-frequency pulse sampling mode through a shorter time window, thereby improving the temporal resolution and estimation accuracy of the blood flow velocity spectrum. Subsequently, this paper proposed two methods for constructing the blood flow velocity spectrum for multi-frequency pulse sampling mode, namely the BMUSIC algorithm with lower complexity and the VMUSIC algorithm with better artifact suppression effect. The experimental results based on Field Ⅱ simulation data and in vivo data show that, compared with the sparse emission method of single-frequency Doppler pulses, the proposed method in this paper can not only use a shorter time window to improve the temporal resolution of the blood flow velocity spectrum, but also obtain continuous, clear, high-precision, and better artifact suppression effect of blood flow velocity estimation results. In the experiments with in vivo data, due to the limitation of experimental constraints, the proposed method cannot achieve non-integer multiples of frequency, and the performance advantage of the VMUSIC algorithm is not fully demonstrated.

Key words: blood flow velocity estimation, Doppler ultrasound signal, multi-frequency pulse

CLC Number:

TP391.41

MA Biyun, FAN Yihua, LIU Jiaojiao. Blood Flow Velocity Estimation Method Based on Multi-Frequency Pulse Sampling[J]. Journal of South China University of Technology(Natural Science Edition), 2024, 52(10): 22-30.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1

Fig.2

Fig.3

Fig.4

Fig.5

Fig.6

Fig.7

Fig.8

Fig.9

References 19

1	郑海荣，邱维宝，王丛知，等．超声成像与治疗技术进展与趋势［J］．中国科学：生命科学，2020，50（11）：1256-1267．
	ZHENG Hairong， QIU Weibao， WANG Congzhi，et al ．Advances and trends in ultrasound imaging and therapeutic technology［J］．Scientia Sinica：Vitae，2020，50（11）：1256-1267．
2	许凯亮，付亚鹏，闫少渊，等．基于超快超声多普勒的三维脑损伤成像方法研究［J］．声学学报，2023，48（1）：173-181.
	XU Kailiang， FU Yapeng， YAN Shaoyuan，et al ．Ultrafast ultrasound Doppler imaging for three-dimensional cerebral injury evaluation［J］．Acta Acustica，2023，48（1）：173-181.
3	JENSEN J A.Estimation of blood velocities using ultrasound：a signal processing approach［M］．Cambridge：Cambridge University Press，1996：20-30.
4	TAGHAVI I， ANDERSEN S B， HOYOS C A V，et al ． In vivo motion correction in super-resolution imaging of rat kidneys［J］‍．IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics，Ferroelectrics，and Frequency Control，2021，68（10）‍：3082-3093.
5	JØRGENSEN L T， SCHOU M， STUART M B，et al ．Tensor velocity imaging with motion correction［J］‍．IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics，Ferroelectrics，and Frequency Control，2021，68（5）：1676-1686.
6	JENSEN J A ．Spectral velocity estimation in ultrasound using sparse data sets［J］．Journal of the Acoustical Society of America，2006，120（1）：211-220.
7	GRAN F， JAKOBSSON A， JENSEN J A ．Adaptive spectral Doppler estimation［J］．IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics，Ferroelectrics，and Frequency Control，2009，56（4）：700-714.
8	GUDMUNDSON E， JAKOBSSON A， JENSEN J A，et al ．Blood velocity estimation using ultrasound and spectral iterative adaptive approaches［J］．Signal Processing，2011，91（5）：1275-1283.
9	LORINTIU O， LIEBGOTT H， FRIBOULET D ．Compressed sensing Doppler ultrasound reconstruction using block sparse Bayesian learning［J］‍．IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging，2016，35（4）：978-987.
10	COHEN R， ELDAR Y C ．Sparse Doppler sensing based on nested arrays［J］．IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics，Ferroelectrics，and Frequency Control，2018，65（12）：2349-2364.
11	WELCH P ．The use of fast Fourier transform for the estimation of power spectra：a method based on time averaging over short，modified periodograms［J］．IEEE Transactions on Audio and Electroacoustics，1967，15（2）：70-73.
12	TABATABAEI MAJD S M M， MOHAMMADZADEH ASL B ．Adaptive spectral Doppler estimation based on the modified amplitude spectrum Capon［J］‍．IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics，Ferroelectrics，and Frequency Control，2021，68（5）：1664-1675.
13	马碧云，吴港，刘娇蛟，等．基于稀疏脉冲采样的低复杂度血流速度估计算法［J］．华南理工大学学报（自然科学版），2023，51（5）：63-69.
	MA Biyun， WU Gang， LIU Jiaojiao，et al ．Low complexity blood flow velocity estimation algorithm via sparse pulse sampling［J］．Journal of South China University of Technology （Natural Science Edition），2023，51（5）：63-69.
14	QIN S， ZHANG Y D， AMIN M G，et al ．DOA estimation exploiting a uniform linear array with multiple co-prime frequencies［J］．Signal Processing，2017，130：37-46.
15	ZHANG S， AHMED A， ZHANG Y D，et al ．Enhanced DOA estimation exploiting multi-frequency sparse array［J］．IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing，2021，69：5935-5946.
16	ZHANG Y D， AMIN M G ．Multi-frequency rational sparse array for direction-of-arrival estimation［C］∥ Proceedings of 2023 International Symposium on Signals，Circuits and Systems．Iasi：IEEE，2023：10190922/1-4.
17	AMBROGIO S， ANSELL J， GABRIEL E，et al ．Pulsed wave Doppler measurements of maximum velocity：dependence on sample volume size［J］．Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology，2022，48（1）：68-77.
18	PAL P， VAIDYANATHAN P P ．Nested arrays：a novel approach to array processing with enhanced degrees of freedom［J］．IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing，2010，58（8）：4167-4181.
19	KULKARNI P， VAIDYANATHAN P P ．Non-integer arrays for array signal processing［J］．IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing，2022，70：5457-5472.