3D Tendon Strain Estimation Using High-frequency Volumetric Ultrasound Images: A Feasibility Study.

3D Tendon Strain Estimation Using High-frequency Volumetric Ultrasound Images: A Feasibility Study. Ultrason Imaging. 2017 Aug 01;:161734617724658 Authors: Carvalho C, Slagmolen P, Bogaerts S, Scheys L, D'hooge J, Peers K, Maes F, Suetens P Abstract Estimation of strain in tendons for tendinopathy assessment is a hot topic within the sports medicine community. It is believed that, if accurately estimated, existing treatment and rehabilitation protocols can be improved and presymptomatic abnormalities can be detected earlier. State-of-the-art studies present inaccurate and highly variable strain estimates, leaving this problem without solution. Out-of-plane motion, present when acquiring two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound (US) images, is a known problem and may be responsible for such errors. This work investigates the benefit of high-frequency, three-dimensional (3D) US imaging to reduce errors in tendon strain estimation. Volumetric US images were acquired in silico, in vitro, and ex vivo using an innovative acquisition approach that combines the acquisition of 2D high-frequency US images with a mechanical guided system. An affine image registration method was used to estimate global strain. 3D strain estimates were then compared with ground-truth values and with 2D strain estimates. The obtained results for in silico data showed a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.07%, 0.05%, and 0.27% for 3D estimates along axial, lateral direction, and...
Source: Ultrasonic Imaging - Category: Radiology Tags: Ultrason Imaging Source Type: research