Various optical structures have been investigated for high-frequency optoacoustic generation via thermoelastic effect, including metal films, mixture of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and carbon black, two-dimensional (2-D) gold nanostructure with PDMS film, etc. However, they suffer from either low light absorption efficiency which affects the amplitude of generated ultrasound, or thick films tha...

BACKGROUND Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound of the shoulder is characterized by a comparable accuracy to two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound. No studies investigating 2D versus 3D inter-rater reliability in the detection of supraspinatus tendon tears taking into account the level of experience of the raters have been carried out so far. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the inter...

PURPOSE A three-dimensional finite element analysis based canine heart model is introduced that would enable the assessment of cardiac function. METHODS The three-dimensional canine heart model is based on the cardiac deformation and motion model obtained from the Cardiac Mechanics Research Group at UCSD. The canine heart model is incorporated into ultrasound simulation programs previously de...

This paper uses a new ultrasound tissue model to propose an ultrasound image deconvolution algorithm for improving the quality of ultrasound images. This model incorporates random fluctuations of the tissue signal within the received ultrasound RF echo signal, which has not been considered in the existing ultrasound imaging algorithms. To deal with the tissue image formation and noise reduction...

PURPOSE: Ultrasound offers a safe radiation-free approach to visualize the spine and measure or assess scoliosis. However, ultrasound assessment also poses major challenges. We propose a real-time algorithm and software implementation to automatically delineate the posterior surface patches of transverse processes in tracked ultrasound; a necessary step toward the ultimate goal of spinal curvat...

OBJECTIVE Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration could be performed better with computer-based preparation. METHODS Three-dimensional virtual bronchoscopy was used to develop 2 modes of computer-based "virtual endobronchial ultrasound." "Virtual endobronchial ultrasound standard" used conventional virtual bronchoscopy to determine the spot and angle for transbronchia...

Cardiac anatomy is complex and often difficult to visualize or comprehend. 3D echocardiography is an area undergoing rapid development that represents a natural extension of conventional sonography methods which require integrating a series of 2D image slices to develop a 3D impression of underlying anatomy or pathology. This paper will review some of the basic concepts behind three-dimensional...

AIM To use 3D ultrasonography (3DUS) for the diagnosis of retinoblastoma. METHODS Five eyes of three children with retinoblastoma were evaluated using a commercially available computerised 3DUS system. Interactive sectioning of the stored and reconstructed 3D volumes were performed. 3DUS and histopathological findings were correlated after enucleation. RESULTS 3DUS examination revealed char...