Development of contrast enhanced active Doppler ultrasound for non-incision and real time detection of lymph channels

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H04436
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90110:Biomedical engineering-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Kenji 千葉大学, フロンティア医工学センター, 准教授 (10572985)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 秋田 新介 千葉大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (00436403) ; 林 秀樹 千葉大学, フロンティア医工学センター, 教授 (20312960) ; 山口 匡 千葉大学, フロンティア医工学センター, 教授 (40334172) ; 小山 大介 同志社大学, 理工学部, 教授 (50401518)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 超音波 / マイクロバブル / 近赤外蛍光 / ドプラ効果 / 音響放射力 / 平面波イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We proposed a contrast-enhanced active Doppler ultrasound to visualize lymphatic vessels with high sensitivity using a versatile ultrasound system, and showed the ultrasound transmission conditions suitable for the proposed method. We showed that the detection sensitivity of the contrast agent and real-time performance can be improved by the signal processing method using singular value decomposition and by applying high speed imaging with plane wave. These techniques are essential for practical use.
Regarding the development of contrast agents for ultrasound and near-infrared fluorescence dual imaging, we confirmed that the characteristics of the phospholipids(phase transition temperature) strongly affect the performance of the contrast agent (fluorescence characteristics, acoustic scattering characteristics, and lifetime). Although we were unable to develop a contrast agent with practical performance, we were able to obtain quantitative data to consider future directions.

Free Research Field

医用超音波

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

イメージング法については，実用展開が可能な超音波の送信条件，リンパ管を模擬した流路を良好なコントラスト比で可視化できた意義は大きいと考えている．
デュアルイメージング用造影剤の開発については，実用で効果的な造影剤の開発には至らなかったが，基礎データは今後新たな造影剤を提案・設計する上で重要な結果が蓄積できた．学術的側面において非常に意義深い結果と考えている．