Microultraound and small bowel inflammation:Tissue phantom studies

Capsule endoscopy represents a highly convenient but limited means of imaging inflammatory conditions of the small bowel. The inclusion of high frequency microultrasound into a capsule endoscope has the potential to enhance diagnostic capabilities with subsurface imaging of the bowel wall. Experimental studies on abattoir-obtained porcine small bowel have been carried out as an ethical means to characterize healthy and altered tissue in a preclinical setting as well as to explore other means of imaging pathology. Samples of small bowel were cannulated and perfused with phosphate buffered saline followed by variable dilutions of polystyrene microspheres. All samples were scanned with a purpose built step scanner employing a 47 MHz single element transducer. Results indicated that tissue high frequency ultrasound demonstrated sufficient sensitivity to detect the disruption normal histology with microsphere infusion. The combination of microultrasound and capsule endoscopy has the potential to enhance the diagnostic capabilities with improved qualitative and quantitative dimensions

Design and Simulation of a Ring-Shaped Linear Array for Microultrasound Capsule Endoscopy

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has significantly advanced visualization of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) since its introduction in the last 20 years. Work is now under way to combine VCE with microultrasound imaging. However, small maximum capsule dimensions, coupled with the electronics required to integrate ultrasound imaging capabilities, pose significant design challenges. This paper describes a simulation process for testing transducer geometries and imaging methodologies to achieve satisfactory imaging performance within the physical limitations of the capsule size and outlines many of the trade-offs needed in the design of this new class of ultrasound capsule endoscopy (USCE) device. A hybrid MATLAB model is described, incorporating KLM circuit elements and digitizing and beamforming elements to render a grey-scale B-mode. This model is combined with a model of acoustic propagation to generate images of point scatterers. The models are used to demonstrate the performance of a USCE transducer configuration comprising a single, unfocused transmit ring of radius 5 mm separated into eight segments for electrical impedance control and a 512-element receive linear array, also formed into a ring. The MATLAB model includes an ultrasonic pulser circuit connected to a piezocrystal composite transmit transducer with a center frequency of 25 MHz. B-scan images are simulated for wire target phantoms, multilayered phantoms, and a gut wall model. To demonstrate the USCE system’s ability to image tissue, a digital phantom was created from single-element ultrasonic transducer scans of porcine small bowel ex vivo obtained at a frequency of 45 MHz

Translational trial outcomes for capsule endoscopy test devices

Current clinical standards in the endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases are primarily based on the use of optical systems. Ultrasound has established diagnostic credibility in the form of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), however it is limited to examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract (oesophagus, stomach and upper (proximal) small bowel). Access to the remainder of the small bowel is currently limited to optical capsule endoscopes and a limited number of other modalities as these capsules are restricted to visual examination of the surface or mucosa of the gut wall. Ultrasound capsule endoscopy has been proposed to integrate microultrasound imaging capabilities into the existing capsule format and extend examination capabilities beyond the mucosa. To establish the ability of high frequency ultrasound to resolve the histological structure of the gastrointestinal tract, ex vivo scans of pig and human tissue were performed. This was done using 25 and 34 MHz single element, physically focused composite transducers mechanically scanned along the tissue. Tethered prototype devices were then developed with 30 MHz physically focused polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) single element transducers embedded for use in initial translational trials in the small bowel of porcine subjects. B-scan images from the ex vivo model validation and the in vivo trials are presented

Fibre-selective recording from the peripheral nerves of frogs using a multi-electrode cuff

Objective. We investigate the ability of the method of velocity selective recording (VSR) to determine the fibre types that contribute to a compound action potential (CAP) propagating along a peripheral nerve. Real-time identification of the active fibre types by determining the direction of action potential propagation (afferent or efferent) and velocity might allow future neural prostheses to make better use of biological sensor signals and provide a new and simple tool for use in fundamental neuroscience. Approach. Fibre activity was recorded from explanted Xenopus Laevis frog sciatic nerve using a single multi-electrode cuff that records whole nerve activity with 11 equidistant ring-shaped electrodes. The recorded signals were amplified, delayed against each other with variable delay times, added and band-pass filtered. Finally, the resulting amplitudes were measured. Main Result. Our experiments showed that electrically evoked frog CAP was dominated by two fibre populations, propagating at around 20 and 40 m/s, respectively. The velocity selectivity, i.e. the ability of the system to discriminate between individual populations was increased by applying band-pass filtering. The method extracted an entire velocity spectrum from a 10 ms CAP recording sample in real time. Significance. Unlike the techniques introduced in the 1970s and subsequently, VSR requires only a single nerve cuff and does not require averaging to provide velocity spectral information. This makes it potentially suitable for the generation of highly-selective real-time control-signals for future neural prostheses. In our study, electrically evoked CAPs were analysed and it remains to be proven whether the method can reliably classify physiological nerve traffic

Design and simulation of a high-frequency ring-shaped linear array for capsule ultrasound endoscopy

Current research into endoscopy and colonoscopy has significantly advanced visualization of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The Sonopill project seeks to combine the imaging capabilities of endoscopic ultrasound with the full GIT transit of capsule endoscopy through the development of a capsule capable of ultrasonic imaging of the GIT, focusing on the small intestine. However, due to the small volume of the proposed capsule and the need to transmit received data wirelessly, the Sonopill system is limited both in data bandwidth and power. This paper presents a MATLAB-based simulation to allow testing of transducer topologies and imaging methodologies to achieve optimum results within the physical limitations of the system. To allow rapid evaluation of possible transducer configurations and circuit elements, a hybrid MATLAB simulation was created, incorporating both KLM circuit elements for analog analysis and digitizing and beamforming elements to render a final grey-scale image for imaging quality analysis. This was used in conjunction with a theoretical acoustic propagation model to image ideal point scatterers. The proposed transducers consist of a single, unfocused transmit ring of radius 5 mm separated into eight segments for impedance control, and a 512-element receive linear array curved into a matching ring. Because of the high element count and pad limitations on the intended electronics, the design requires the use of 32 integrated 16:1 multiplexers which will be bonded directly to the connecting flex circuit before the ASIC. Simulating the loading effects of these multiplexers as well as the proposed transducer configuration was critical to the analysis of the design. The MATLAB model was used to simulate a standard pulser transmitting over a 2.5 m cable to a 0.25 mm × 8 mm × 85 μm PMN-PT piezocrystal transmit transducer with a centre frequency of 25 MHz. B-scan images were then modelled for three imaging phantoms, one containing three point target resolution phantoms, a resolution phantom containing two virtual walls, and a tissue mimicking phantom containing particles with two levels of reflectivity to represent a three layer gut phantom with a high-reflectivity front surface

Development of a mechanical scanning device with high-frequency ultrasound transducer for ultrasonic capsule endoscopy

Wireless capsule endoscopy has opened a new era by enabling remote diagnostic assessment of the gastrointestinaltract in a painless procedure. Video capsule endoscopy is currently commercially available worldwide. However, it is limited to visualization of superficial tissue. Ultrasound (US) imaging is a complementary solution as it is capable of acquiring transmural information from the tissue wall. This paper presents a mechanical scanning device incorporating a high-frequency transducer specifically as a proof of concept for US capsule endoscopy (USCE), providing information that may usefully assist future research. A rotary solenoid-coil-based motor was employed to rotate the US transducer with sectional electronic control. A set of gears was used to convert the sectional rotation to circular rotation. A single-element focused US transducer with 39-MHz center frequency was used for high-resolution US imaging, connected to an imaging platform for pulse generation and image processing. Key parameters of US imaging for USCE applications were evaluated. Wire phantom imaging and tissue phantom imaging have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. A porcine small intestine specimen was also used for imaging evaluation in vitro. Test results demonstrate that the proposed device and rotation mechanism are able to offer good image resolution ( ~60 μm) of the lumen wall, and they, therefore, offer a viable basis for the fabrication of a USCE device