Improving real-time ultrasound spine imaging with a large-aperture array

Ultrasound offers a safe, low-cost alternative to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for spinal diagnostics and intervention by enabling real-time imaging. However, the complex structure of the spine and acoustic shadowing from bones present challenges for ultrasonography. This study addresses these limitations using an 8.8-cm 384-element large-aperture array and full aperture-based imaging protocols. Volumetric scanning across multiple vertebrae was accomplished in 5 seconds using ultrafast, diverging wave acquisition. In 7 healthy volunteers, the large-aperture array and diverging wave transmission improved resolution, contrast, and visualization of the spinal canal, venous plexuses, and facet joints compared with conventional probes. A comparison between the co-registered CT and ultrasound scan confirmed the imaging accuracy. A simulated lumbar puncture demonstrated needle tip visualization throughout the trajectory into the spinal canal. The results sugges..., , # Improving real-time ultrasound spine imaging with a large-aperture array

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.9zw3r22sx](10.5061/dryad.9zw3r22sx)

## Description of the data and file structure

The attached dataset includes raw data, processed data, and MATLAB scripts that are used for data processing for the paper entitled \"Improving real-time ultrasound spine imaging with a large-aperture array\".

Overview of the raw data collection: Phantom data were collected with a standard ultrasound tissue-mimicking phantom (CIRS Model 040GSE) and a house-made tissue-mimicking spine phantom as described in the paper. Human spine images were collected from seven healthy human volunteers. All the human ultrasound imaging was performed following the protocol approved by the Institutional Review Board. Informed written consent was obtained from all 7 volunteers involved in human spine imaging.

Please see the details below for each zip file.

### Files and variables

#### File: stats.zip

**Description:** ..., The human subject data (ultrasound images of lumbar and cervical spine from 7 healthy human volunteers) were only collected to analyze image quality. No information related to human subject identification were collected except the gender, age, and race. All participants explicitly consented to publish the de-identified data in the public domain.