Quantitative evaluation of fast free-hand volumetric ultrasound

Free-hand volumetric ultrasound (FVUS) facilitates 3D US imaging of large anatomical areas. However, this method is user-dependent and image quality, especially in the scan direction (elevational direction), depends on number images acquired per distance unit. This might affect clinical decision making for example quantitative muscle imaging. study addresses three goals. First, to determine quantitatively below which acquisitions cm (acq/cm) quality affected: acquisition limit. Second, translation speed used naturally by sonographers. Third, demonstrate vivo possible benefits utilizing plane wave FVUS, so-called fast FVUS order boost while maintaining information. Fast enables at much higher framerates hence limit easier met allows faster transducer translation. From an analysis contrast elevational resolution a phantom, average was determined be 33 acq/cm. Above limit, information remained unchanged. would imply that when 30 frames second, common frame-rate current 2D devices, suboptimal obtained above speeds 9.1 mm/s. The median maximum observed 10 sonographers were 15.8 mm/s 30.1 mm/s, thus Finally, we presented design enabled acquiring 200 fps, hence, allow up 60.6 We demonstrated tibialis anterior muscles more details visible with lost typical framerate. These observations support our hypothesis ideal ultrasound.