Optical ultrasound image correction with fibre-optic shape sensors - data

Significance: Optical ultrasound (OpUS) imaging, in which ultrasound is generated and received optically, is well suited to guiding minimally procedures. 2D images can be synthesized by translation of an OpUS probe within the body. If the probe positions are not known precisely, spatial distortions in the images may occur. Fibre-optic shape sensors offer the possibility to reduce distortions by providing real-time probe positions in an all-optical, miniaturized device.Aim: We aimed to correct 2D OpUS images acquired with a forward-looking OpUS probe during scanning at non-uniform speeds, using tip position data from a fibre-optic shape sensor.Approach: An OpUS probe was combined with a fibre-optic shape sensor to allow for real-time acquisition of both ultrasound depth scans and probe tip positions, as the probe was scanned at varying speed across a wire grille imaging phantom. The resulting distorted OpUS images were corrected using the shape sensor position data.Results: The corrected images corresponded well to the true positions of the wires in the phantom, and distortions in the raw images caused by pauses and varying speeds of the probe movement were largely removed.Conclusions: Fibre-optic shape sensing is a promising modality for reducing distortions during 2D OpUS images acquired by translating single-element optical transducers.

意义：光学超声成像（OpUS）技术，通过光学方式生成和接收超声波，非常适合引导微创手术。通过在体内平移OpUS探头，可以合成二维图像。若探头位置无法精确知晓，图像中可能会出现空间畸变。光纤形状传感器提供了一种可能性，通过提供全光、微型化设备中的实时探头位置，以减少畸变。目标：本研究旨在利用光纤形状传感器提供的尖端位置数据，校正非均匀速度扫描期间使用前视OpUS探头获取的二维OpUS图像。方法：将OpUS探头与光纤形状传感器相结合，以便在探头以不同速度穿过线格成像幻影时，实时获取超声波深度扫描和探头尖端位置。通过形状传感器位置数据校正得到的畸变OpUS图像。结果：校正后的图像与幻影中线的真实位置相符，由探头移动的暂停和速度变化引起的原始图像畸变得到了显著消除。结论：光纤形状传感技术在减少由单元素光传感器获取的二维OpUS图像中的畸变方面具有广阔的应用前景。