跟骨超声背散射系数与新生儿相关参数的相关性

采用超声背散射法检测新生儿跟骨的超声背散射系数(Ultrasonic Backscatter Coefficient,BSC),并分析BSC与出生胎龄、体重、身长和头围等因素之间的关系,从而评估BSC在评价新生儿松质骨状况中的作用。对122例新生儿的临床测试分析结果表明新生儿跟骨中的BSC与出生时的胎龄、体重和身长有良好的相关性。说明超声背散射信号及其BSC可用于评价新生儿的骨质量。     

超声表观积分背散射系数与骨矿密度的相关性分析

用超声评价骨质状况是近年来骨质疏松诊断方面的研究热点之一。介绍了超声背散射法及其参量表观积分背散射系数(Apparent Integral Backscatter coefficient,AIB)的测量及与骨矿密度(Bone Mineral Density,BMD)的相关性研究。在体采集了1087位志愿者跟骨的超声背散射信号,并用双能X射线骨密度仪(Dual X-ray Absorptiometry,DXA)测得腰椎和髋骨的BMD值,然后对AIB与BMD进行相关性分析。实验结果表明,参数AIB与BMD显著相关(R=0.58～0.64,n=1087,p<0.05),可被应用于松质骨状况评价。     

超声背散射信号评价皮肤烧伤程度的可行性研究

烧伤后的皮肤可分为烧伤层和健康组织层,两层间的阻抗差异将使超声脉冲在界面处发生散射,从而影响超声背散射信号及相关的参数。利用超声背散射技术,研究了新鲜带皮猪肉(皮肤+脂肪层+瘦肉层)烧伤程度与表观背散射系数(Apparent Backscatter Coefficient,ABC)、表观积分背散射系数(Apparent Integral Backscatter Coefficient,AIB)和频谱质心偏移量(Spectral Centroid Shift,SCS)的相关性。研究结果表明,烧伤级数和ABC、AIB参数都有很高的正相关性,说明将ABC和AIB用于评价烧伤程度是可行的。     

基于递归分析的微裂纹缺陷超声检测技术研究

为准确检测金属构件微裂纹缺陷,采用超声脉冲反射法对金属试块进行检测,并提取超声背散射信号进行分析。通过对背散射信号进行简单的建模,说明其组成要素。由于背散射信号的非线性特征,缺陷回波信号会对系统的递归特性产生影响;在此基础上提出了基于递归分析的方法分别对含人工微裂纹缺陷金属试块的无缺陷区、单裂纹区及双裂纹区背散射信号进行检测研究;通过合理的参数选择,对采样信号进行递归分析并绘制递归图;对比含缺陷信号与无缺陷信号,发现前者会在递归图中产生明显的白色交叉条纹带。使用递归定量分析进一步研究了含缺陷背散射信号的递归特征量。结果表明多种特征量对缺陷回波信号比较敏感,其中递归率(RR)和捕获时间(TT)在缺陷位置有明显的特征。     

超声背散射信息熵成像评价脂肪肝的新方法

提出超声背散射Tsallis信息熵成像评价脂肪肝的新方法。利用滑动窗口法,估算窗口内局部背散射包络信号的Tsallis信息熵参数值,对信息熵参数值矩阵进行扫描变换、颜色映射及感兴趣区域设置,叠加到超声B模式图像,实现Tsallis信息熵成像。分析72名肝脏捐献者和204名患者的超声背散射信号,参考标准分别为磁共振波谱测得的肝脏脂肪分数(Hepatic Fat Fraction, HFF)和肝活检组织学检查测得的脂肪肝程度。对于72名肝脏捐献者,Tsallis信息熵与lg(HFF)的相关系数r=0.67(P<0.000 1)。对于204名患者,受试者工作特征曲线下面积分别为0.82、0.88、0.89(≥轻度、≥中度、≥重度),而超声背散射零差K成像分别为0.76、0.82、0.82。超声背散射Tsallis信息熵成像可以直观定征并定量评价脂肪肝的严重程度,其诊断性能优于超声背散射零差K成像,可作为一种超声评价脂肪肝的新方法。     

定向凝固镍基合金DZ444声学特性的各向异性

选取定向凝固镍基高温合金DZ444不同方向片状试样,利用电子背散射衍射等技术表征晶体取向和微观组织,利用脉冲回波技术分析纵波声速和声衰减系数。结果表明:两声学特性呈各向异性,随着试样平面法向与凝固方向之间夹角φ由0°到45°再到90°,纵波声速由5533m/s增大到6595m/s后又降至5634m/s,而声衰减系数逐渐增大,变化约0.19dB/mm;对信号频谱分析发现,表面回波与一次底波的主频差值、主频幅值差值及表观积分反射系数均逐渐增大,这主要是由微观组织和晶体取向差异造成的。     

基于超声背散射信号递归定量分析的CFRP局部孔隙缺陷识别方法

以碳纤维复合材料(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics, CFRP)的超声背散射信号为研究对象,创新性地提出运用递归定量分析(Recursive Quantitative Analysis,RQA)方法获得其信号特征,实现对材料局部孔隙缺陷的识别及评估。首先,对含有孔隙率为0.2%～5.92%的标准试块的超声背散射信号分别进行递归图分析和递归定量分析。结果表明,不同孔隙率试块所对应的递归图特征表现出明显差异,同时,RQA的特征量参数——递归率与递归熵均随孔隙率的增大而增大。然后,运用RQA方法对某未知孔隙率试块进行局部孔隙缺陷评估,基于上述结论,识别得到该试块中最有可能含有局部孔隙缺陷的区域。最后,剖开该未知孔隙率试块作微观形貌观察实验,实验发现该试块实际孔隙缺陷区域与RQA识别得到的结果相同,从而验证了递归定量分析方法用于CFRP局部孔隙缺陷识别的有效性。     

相减策略的含噪多频实信号频率估计算法EI北大核心CSCD

为抑制频谱泄漏对多频实信号频率估计的影响,提出一种新的频率估计算法。利用FFT法和相减策略对采样信号进行处理,逐步得到各分量的频谱最大值索引,以及各分量频谱偏移量和复幅值粗略值;构造包含所有非待估计频率分量的参考信号,利用相减策略从采样信号中减去参考信号,得到待估计的单频复信号,并对其频谱进行两点插值计算,得到该分量较精确的频谱偏移量和复幅值;然后,通过相减策略和频谱分析,逐步得到所有分量较精确的频谱偏移量和复幅值;通过迭代计算得到各分量精确的频率估计值。同时,可得到各分量精确的幅值和初相位。在无噪声、不同频率间隔等条件下进行了频率仿真试验。结果表明:所提算法有效抑制了频谱泄漏的影响,提高了多频实信号的频率估计精度,频率估计值的均方误差比其他优秀算法更靠近克拉美罗下限。     

超声背散射信号递归定量分析无损表征CFRP孔隙分布仿真

针对碳纤维增强树脂基复合材料（Carbon fibre reinforced plastics,CFRP）孔隙分布对其力学性能有不可忽略影响的问题,提出对超声背散射信号进行递归定量分析（Recurrence quantification analysis,RQA）的方法来表征CFRP孔隙尺寸和位置分布。建立孔隙直径D范围为26~70 μm的3组含球形孔隙且孔隙位置分布不同的CFRP模型,3组模型的孔隙间距d分别为0.21 mm、0.14 mm和0.09 mm,对模型进行仿真计算,采用RQA方法分析超声背散射信号。研究发现,相同孔隙位置分布时,递归度P_RR（Recurrence rate）随D的增加而减小;相同孔隙尺寸分布时,P_RR随着孔隙间距d减小而增大,d=0.09 mm时模型的P_RR始终明显高于其余两组,D<50 μm时,d=0.14 mm与d=0.21 mm模型P_RR之间差别明显,D ≥ 50 μm时差别较小。结果表明,不同孔隙分布情况下P_RR均存在差异,P_RR可用于CFRP孔隙分布表征。     

SAC-粉煤灰-再生微粉发泡体系的性能

以硫铝酸盐水泥、粉煤灰和再生微粉为复合胶凝材料,基于双氧水发泡工艺制备发泡保温材料。研究发泡剂用量和再生微粉掺量对发泡水泥的气孔孔径、抗压强度和干表观密度的影响,以及干表观密度和抗压强度的关系。试验结果表明:当再生微粉掺量相同时,发泡水泥的干表观密度和抗压强度均随发泡剂用量增加而降低,而发泡水泥的气孔孔径增大;当发泡剂用量相同时,干表观密度、抗压强度和气孔孔径随再生微粉掺量的增加而较小,而干表观密度和气孔孔径的减小幅度较小。发泡水泥的干表观密度与抗压强度具有良好的线性相关性,R~2为0.96936。     

Ultrasonic characterization of human cancellous bone in vitro using three different apparent backscatter parameters in the frequency range 0.6-15.0 mhz

Ultrasonic techniques based on measurements of apparent backscatter may provide a useful means for diagnosing bone diseases such as osteoporosis. The term "apparent" means that the backscattered signals are not compensated for the frequency-dependent effects of attenuation and diffraction. We performed in vitro apparent backscatter measurements on 23 specimens of human cancellous bone prepared from the left and right femoral heads of seven donors. A mechanical scanning system was used to obtain backscattered signals from each specimen at several sites. Scans were performed using five different ultrasonic transducers with center frequencies of 1, 2.25, 5, 7.5, and 10 MHz. The -6 dB bandwidths of these transducers covered a frequency range of 0.6-15.0 MHz. The backscattered signals were analyzed to determine three ultrasonic parameters: apparent integrated backscatter (AIB), frequency slope of apparent backscatter (FSAB), and time slope of apparent backscatter (TSAB). Linear regression analysis was used to examine the correlation of these ultrasonic parameters with five measured physical characteristics of the specimens: mass density, X-ray bone mineral density, Young's modulus, yield strength, and ultimate strength. A total of 75 such correlations were examined (3 ultrasonic parameters x 5 specimen characteristics x 5 transducers). Good correlations were observed for AIB using the 5 MHz (r = 0.70 - 0.89) and 7.5 MHz (r = 0.75-0.93) transducers; for FSAB using the 2.25 MHz (r = 0.70 - 0.88), 5 MHz (r = 0.79 - 0.94), and 7.5 MHz (r = 0.80 - 0.92) transducers; and for TSAB using the 5 MHz (r = 0.68 - 0.89), 7.5 MHz (r = 0.75 - 0.89), and 10 MHz (r = 0.75 - 0.92) transducers.     

Characterization of trabecular bone using the backscattered spectral centroid shift

Ultrasonic attenuation in bone in vivo is generally measured using a through-transmission method at the calcaneus. Although attenuation in calcaneus has been demonstrated to be a useful predictor for osteoporotic fracture risk, measurements at other clinically important sites, such as hip and spine, could potentially contain additional useful diagnostic information. Through-transmission measurements may not be feasible at these sites due to complex bone shapes and the increased amount of intervening soft tissue. Centroid shift from the backscattered signal is an index of attenuation slope and has been used previously to characterize soft tissues. In this paper, centroid shift from signals backscattered from 30 trabecular bone samples in vitro were measured. Attenuation slope also was measured using a through-transmission method. The correlation coefficient between centroid shift and attenuation slope was -0.71. The 95% confidence interval was (-0.86, -0.47). These results suggest that the backscattered spectral centroid shift may contain useful diagnostic information potentially applicable to hip and spine.     

Ultrasonic scattering from cancellous bone: a review

This paper reviews theory, measurements, and computer simulations of scattering from cancellous bone reported by many laboratories. Three theoretical models (binary mixture, Faran cylinder, and weak scattering) for scattering from cancellous bone have demonstrated some consistency with measurements of backscatter. Backscatter is moderately correlated with bone mineral density in human calcaneus in vitro (r(2) = 0.66 - 0.68). Backscatter varies approximately as frequency cubed and trabecular thickness cubed in human calcaneus and femur in vitro. Backscatter from human calcaneus and bovine tibia exhibits substantial anisotropy. So far, backscatter has demonstrated only modest clinical utility. Computer simulation models have helped to elucidate mechanisms underlying scattering from cancellous bones.     

Velocity dispersion of acoustic waves in cancellous bone

Measurement of ultrasonic attenuation and velocity in cancellous bone are being applied to aid diagnosis of women with high fracture risk due to osteoporosis. However, velocity dispersion in cancellous bone has received little attention up to now. The overall goal of this research was to characterize the velocity dispersion of human cancellous bone based on a spectral analysis of ultrasound transmitted through the bone specimens. We have followed a systematic approach, beginning with the investigation of a test material, moving on to the investigation of bone specimens. Particular attention is given to diffraction effect, a potential source of artifacts. Parametric images of phase velocity (measured at the center frequency of the pulse spectrum), slope of attenuation coefficient (dB/cm/MHz) and velocity dispersion were obtained by scanning 15 bone specimens. We have demonstrated that the diffraction effect is negligible in the useful frequency bandwidth, and that the ultrasonic parameters reflect intrinsic acoustic properties of bone tissue. The measured attenuation showed approximately linear behavior over the frequency range 200 to 600 kHz. Velocity dispersion of cancellous bone in the frequency range 200 to 600 kHz was unexpectedly found to be either negative or positive and not correlated with the slope of attenuation coefficient. There was a highly significant correlation between the slope of attenuation coefficient and phase velocity at the center frequency of the spectrum. This behavior contrasts with other biological or nonbiological materials where the local form of the Kramers-Kronig relationship provides accurate prediction of velocity dispersion from the experimental frequency dependent-attenuation for unbounded waves.     

Time-domain calculation of spectral centroid from backscattered ultrasound signals

Spectral centroid estimation from backscattered ultrasound RF signals is the preliminary step for quantitative ultrasound analysis in many medical applications. The traditional approach of estimating the spectral centroid in the frequency domain takes a long time because discrete Fourier transform (DFT) processing for each RF segment is required. To avoid this, we propose time-domain methods to estimate the spectral centroid in this paper. First, we derive the continuous-time-domain equations for the spectral centroid estimation using Parseval's theorem and Hilbert transform theory. Then, we extend the method to the discrete-time domain to ease the implementation while maintaining the same accuracy as the calculation in the frequency domain. From the result, we observe that it is not practical to apply the discrete-time equations directly, because a high sampling rate is needed to approximate the time derivative in the discrete-time domain. Therefore, we also derive the feasible version of the discrete-time equations using a circular autocorrelation function, which has no constraints on the sampling rate for real RF signals acquired from pulse-echo ultrasound systems. Simulation results using numerical phantoms show that the time-domain calculation is approximately 4.4 times faster on average than the frequency-domain method when the software's built-in functions were used. The average estimation error compared with that of the frequency-domain method using DFT is less than 0.2% for the entire propagation depths. The proposed time-domain approach to estimate the spectral centroid can be easily implemented in real-time ultrasound systems.     

Application of the Biot model to ultrasound in bone: inverse problem

This paper concerns the ultrasonic characterization of human cancellous bone samples by solving the inverse problem using experimentally measured signals. The inverse problem is solved numerically by the least squares method. Five parameters are inverted: porosity, tortuosity, viscous characteristic length, Young modulus, and Poisson ratio of the skeletal frame. The minimization of the discrepancy between experiment and theory is made in the time domain. The ultrasonic propagation in cancellous bone is modelled using the Biot theory modified by the Johnson-Koplik-Dashen model for viscous exchange between fluid and structure. The sensitivity of the Young modulus and the Poisson ratio of the skeletal frame is studied showing their effect on the fast and slow waveforms. The inverse problem is shown to be well posed, and its solution to be unique. Experimental results for slow and fast waves transmitted through human cancellous bone samples are given and compared with theoretical predictions.     

Ultrasonic scanner for in vivo measurement of cancellous bone properties from backscattered data

A dedicated ultrasonic scanner for acquiring RF echoes backscattered from the trabecular bone was developed. The design of device is based on the goal of minimizing of custom electronics and computations executed solely on the main computer processor and the graphics card. The electronic encoder-digitizer module executing all of the transmission and reception functions is based on a single low-cost field programmable gate array (FPGA). The scanner is equipped with a mechanical sector-scan probe with a concave transducer with 50 mm focal length, center frequency of 1.5 MHz and 60% bandwidth at -6 dB. The example of femoral neck bone examination shows that the scanner can provide ultrasonic data from deeply located bones with the ultrasound penetrating the trabecular bone up to a depth of 20 mm. It is also shown that the RF echo data acquired with the scanner allow for the estimation of attenuation coefficient and frequency dependence of backscattering coefficient of trabecular bone. The values of the calculated parameters are in the range of corresponding in vitro data from the literature but their variation is relatively high.     

松质骨组织的若干超声参量成像方法

介绍了两种松质骨组织超声参量成像方法,即宽带超声衰减成像和超声传导速度成像,概述了这两种基于透射法的成像方法的基本原理以及应用情况．并指出了采用超声透射法参量成像时存在的问题。然后对基于背散射法的超声背散射系数成像方法的可行性进行了分析和讨论,最后对进一步的研究工作进行了展望。