3D microwave tomography with huber regularization applied to realistic numerical breast phantoms

Quantitative active microwave imaging for breast cancer screening and therapy monitoring applications requires adequate reconstruction algorithms, in particular with regard to the nonlinearity and ill-posedness of the inverse problem. We employ a fully vectorial three-dimensional nonlinear inversion algorithm for reconstructing complex permittivity profiles from multi-view single-frequency scattered field data, which is based on a Gauss-Newton optimization of a regularized cost function. We tested it before with various types of regularizing functions for piecewise-constant objects from Institut Fresnel and with a quadratic smoothing function for a realistic numerical breast phantom. In the present paper we adopt a cost function that includes a Huber function in its regularization term, relying on a Markov Random Field approach. The Huber function favors spatial smoothing within homogeneous regions while preserving discontinuities between contrasted tissues. We illustrate the technique with 3D reconstructions from synthetic data at 2GHz for realistic numerical breast phantoms from the University of Wisconsin-Madison UWCEM online repository: we compare Huber regularization with a multiplicative smoothing regularization and show reconstructions for various positions of a tumor, for multiple tumors and for different tumor sizes, from a sparse and from a denser data configuration

Ultrasonic Computed Tomography

Ultrasonic Computed Tomography (UCT) is a full digital imaging technique, which consists in numerically solving the inverse scattering problem associated to the forward scattering problem describing the interaction of ultrasonic waves with inhomogeneous media. For weakly inhomogeneous media such as soft tissues, various approximations of the solution of the forward problem (straight ray approximation, Born approximation...), leading to easy-to-implement approximations of the inverse scattering problem (back-projection or back-propagation algorithms) can be used. In the case of highly heterogeneous media such as bone surrounded by soft tissues, such approximations are no more valid. We present here two non-linear inversion schemes based on high-order approximations. These methods are conceived like the prolongation of the methods implemented in the weakly inhomogeneous case for soft tissues. The results show the feasibility of this UCT approach to bones and its potential to perform measurements in vivo

Holographic particle localization under multiple scattering

We introduce a novel framework that incorporates multiple scattering for large-scale 3D particle-localization using single-shot in-line holography. Traditional holographic techniques rely on single-scattering models which become inaccurate under high particle-density. We demonstrate that by exploiting multiple-scattering, localization is significantly improved. Both forward and back-scattering are computed by our method under a tractable recursive framework, in which each recursion estimates the next higher-order field within the volume. The inverse scattering is presented as a nonlinear optimization that promotes sparsity, and can be implemented efficiently. We experimentally reconstruct 100 million object voxels from a single 1-megapixel hologram. Our work promises utilization of multiple scattering for versatile large-scale applications

La eficiencia de aplicar muestreo comprimido y resolución múltiple en tomografía por ultrasonido

Introduction: This publication is the product of  research developed within the research lines of the Smart Sensing, Signal Processing, and Applications (3SPA)  research  group  throughout  2018,  which  supports  the  work  of  a  doctor’s degree at VNU University of Engineering & Technology, Vietnam. Problem: The limitations of diagnostic ultrasound techniques using echo information has motivated the study of new imaging models in order to create additional quantitative ultrasound information in multi-model imaging devices. A promising solution is to use image sound contrast because it is capable of detecting changes in diseased tissue structures. Ultrasound tomography shows speed-of-sound changes in the propagation medium of sound waves. This technique is primarily used for imaging cancer-causing cells in womens’ breasts. The Distorted Born Iterative Method (DBIM), based on the first-order Born approximation, is an efficient diffraction tomography approach. The compressed sensing technique is utilized for DBIM to obtain the high-quality ultrasound image, although the image reconstruction process is quite long. Objective: The objective of the research is to propose an combined method for the efficient ultrasound tomography. Methodology: In this paper, we proposed an approach to enhance the imaging quality and to reduce the imaging time by applying the compressed sensing technique along with the multi-resolution technique for the DBIM. Results: The simulation results indicate that the imaging time is reduced by 33% and the imaging quality is improved by 83%. Conclusion: This project seeks to propose an improvement in ultrasound tomography. The simulated results confirmed the realibility of the propsed method. Originality: Through this research, a combined method of compressed sensing and multiple resolution are formulated for the first time in ultrasound tomography. Limitations: The lack of experiments to confirm the proposed method.Introducción: esta publicación es el producto de la investigación desarrollada dentro de las líneas del grupode investigación Detección Inteligente, Procesamiento de Señales y Aplicaciones (3SPA, Smart Sensing, Signal Processing, and Applications) a lo largo de 2018, que respalda el trabajo de un doctorado en la Universidad deIngeniería y Tecnología de VNU, Vietnam. Problema: las limitaciones de las técnicas de diagnóstico por ultrasonido que utilizan información de eco han motivado el estudio de nuevos modelos de imágenes para crear información cuantitativa adicional de ultrasonidos en dispositivos de imágenes de modelos múltiples. Una solución prometedora es utilizar el contraste de sonido de la imagen porque es capaz de detectar cambios en las estructuras de los tejidos enfermos. La tomografía por ultrasonido muestra los cambios en la velocidad del sonido en el medio de propagación de las ondas sonoras. Esta técnica se usa principalmente para obtener imágenes de células que causan cáncer en los senos de las mujeres.  Objetivo: el objetivo de la investigación es proponer un método combinado para la tomografía de ultrasonido eficiente. Metodología: en este documento se propuso un enfoque para mejorar la calidad de la imagen y reducir el tiempo diante la aplicación de la técnica de detección comprimida junto con la técnica de resolución múltiplepara el DBIM. Resultados: los resultados de la simulación indican que el tiempo de imagen se reduce en un 33 % y la calidad de imagen se mejora en un 83 %. Conclusión: este proyecto busca proponer una mejora en la tomografía por ultrasonido. Los resultados simulados confirmaron la viabilidad del método sugerido. Originalidad: a través de esta investigación, se formula por primera vez un método combinado de detección comprimida y resolución múltiple en la tomografía por ultrasonido. Limitaciones: la falta de experimentos para confirmar el método propuesto

Planar and cylindrical active microwave temperature imaging: numerical simulations

A comparative study at 2.45 GHz concerning both measurement and reconstruction parameters for planar and cylindrical configurations is presented. For the sake of comparison, a numerical model consisting of two nonconcentric cylinders is considered and reconstructed using both geometries from simulated experimental data. The scattered fields and reconstructed images permit extraction of very useful information about dynamic range, sensitivity, resolution, and quantitative image accuracy for the choice of the configuration in a particular application. Both geometries can measure forward and backward scattered fields. The backscattering measurement improves the image resolution and reconstruction in lossy mediums, but, on the other hand, has several dynamic range difficulties. This tradeoff between forward only and forward-backward field measurement is analyzed. As differential temperature imaging is a weakly scattering problem, Born approximation algorithms can be used. The simplicity of Born reconstruction algorithms and the use of FFT make them very attractive for real-time biomedical imaging systems.Peer Reviewe

Planar and cylindrical active microwave temperature imaging...

A comparative study at 2.45 GHz concerning both measurement and reconstruction parameters for planar and cylindrical configurations is presented. For the sake of comparison, a numerical model consisting of two nonconcentric cylinders is considered and reconstructed using both geometries from simulated experimental data. The scattered fields and reconstructed images permit extraction of very useful information about dynamic range, sensitivity, resolution, and quantitative image accuracy for the choice of the configuration in a particular application. Both geometries can measure forward and backward scattered fields. The backscattering measurement improves the image resolution and reconstruction in lossy mediums, but, on the other hand, has several dynamic range difficulties. This tradeoff between forward only and forward-backward field measurement is analyzed. As differential temperature imaging is a weakly scattering problem, Born approximation algorithms can be used. The simplicity of Born reconstruction algorithms and the use of FFT make them very attractive for real-time biomedical imaging systems.Peer Reviewe

Reconstruction and rendering of time-varying natural phenomena

While computer performance increases and computer generated images get ever more realistic, the need for modeling computer graphics content is becoming stronger. To achieve photo-realism detailed scenes have to be modeled often with a significant amount of manual labour. Interdisciplinary research combining the fields of Computer Graphics, Computer Vision and Scientific Computing has led to the development of (semi-)automatic modeling tools freeing the user of labour-intensive modeling tasks. The modeling of animated content is especially challenging. Realistic motion is necessary to convince the audience of computer games, movies with mixed reality content and augmented reality applications. The goal of this thesis is to investigate automated modeling techniques for time-varying natural phenomena. The results of the presented methods are animated, three-dimensional computer models of fire, smoke and fluid flows.Durch die steigende Rechenkapazität moderner Computer besteht die Möglichkeit immer realistischere Bilder virtuell zu erzeugen. Dadurch entsteht ein größerer Bedarf an Modellierungsarbeit um die nötigen Objekte virtuell zu beschreiben. Um photorealistische Bilder erzeugen zu können müssen sehr detaillierte Szenen, oft in mühsamer Handarbeit, modelliert werden. Ein interdisziplinärer Forschungszweig, der Computergrafik, Bildverarbeitung und Wissenschaftliches Rechnen verbindet, hat in den letzten Jahren die Entwicklung von (semi-)automatischen Methoden zur Modellierung von Computergrafikinhalten vorangetrieben. Die Modellierung dynamischer Inhalte ist dabei eine besonders anspruchsvolle Aufgabe, da realistische Bewegungsabläufe sehr wichtig für eine überzeugende Darstellung von Computergrafikinhalten in Filmen, Computerspielen oder Augmented-Reality Anwendungen sind. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es automatische Modellierungsmethoden für dynamische Naturerscheinungen wie Wasserfluss, Feuer, Rauch und die Bewegung erhitzter Luft zu entwickeln. Das Resultat der entwickelten Methoden sind dabei dynamische, dreidimensionale Computergrafikmodelle

Feasibility of thickness mapping using ultrasonic guided waves

Detection and sizing of corrosion in pipelines and pressure vessels over large, partially accessible areas is of growing interest in the petrochemical and nuclear industries. Traditionally, conventional ultrasonic thickness gauging and eddy current techniques have been used to precisely measure the thickness in structures. These techniques only allow the measurement of the local thickness under the probe. Consequently obtaining the remnant thickness of a specimen over a large area requires the probe to be scanned, which is a long and tedious process. Moreover, with these techniques, the scanning may become impossible when the area of inspection is inaccessible. There is therefore a need for a rapid, accurate, long range inspection technique to measure the remaining thickness in corrosion patches. Low frequency guided waves are now routinely used to screen large area of pipes and other structures for cracks and corrosion. Their detection and location capability is very good, but the standard screening technique only gives a rough estimate of the remaining wall thickness. Guided waves have multiple properties which can be used for thickness mapping over large partially accessible areas e.g. dispersion and cutoff frequency thickness product of the high order modes. The present work aims to demonstrate the potential of guided waves for thickness mapping over large partially accessible areas. It starts with a general introduction on ultrasonic guided waves and a literature review of the different techniques for the evaluation of thickness with guided waves. The severity of the errors introduced in time-of-flight tomography for thickness reconstruction by breaking the assumption of the ray theory are investigated. As these errors are significant, the possibility of using the cutoff property of the high order modes is investigated in a frequency range where the ray theory is valid. It is found that the attenuation due to the scattering of the waves in corrosion is too large for this technique to work. Finally the use of low frequency guided wave for diffraction tomography is examined. Finite element simulations of a 64 element circular array on a plate show that when the scattering mechanism of the object to be reconstructed satisfies the Born approximation the reconstruction of the thickness is accurate. However the practical implementation is more challenging when the incident field is not known. Experimental results demonstrate that ultimately the scattering from the array of transducer is a major source of error in the tomographic reconstruction, but when there is no scattering from the array of transducers the reconstructions are very similar to the finite element simulations