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In Vivo Ultrasonic Attenuation Slope Estimates For Detecting Cervical Ripening In Rats: Preliminary Results, Timothy A. Bigelow, Barbara L. Mcfarlin, William D. O'Brien Jr., Michael L. Oelze
In Vivo Ultrasonic Attenuation Slope Estimates For Detecting Cervical Ripening In Rats: Preliminary Results, Timothy A. Bigelow, Barbara L. Mcfarlin, William D. O'Brien Jr., Michael L. Oelze
Timothy A. Bigelow
To effectively postpone preterm birth, cervical ripening needs to be detected and delayed. As the cervix ripens, the spacing between the collagen fibers increases and fills with water, hyaluronan, decorin, and enzymes suggesting that the ultrasonic attenuation of the cervix should decrease. The decrease in ultrasonic attenuation may be detectable, leading to an effective means of detecting cervical ripening. Herein, the traditional attenuation slope-estimation algorithm based on measuring the downshift in center frequency of the ultrasonic backscattered signal with propagation depth was modified and applied to the cervix of rats. The modified algorithm was verified using computer simulations and an …
Signal Processing Strategies That Improve Performance And Understanding Of The Quantitative Ultrasound Spectral Fit Algorithm, Timothy A. Bigelow, William D. O'Brien
Signal Processing Strategies That Improve Performance And Understanding Of The Quantitative Ultrasound Spectral Fit Algorithm, Timothy A. Bigelow, William D. O'Brien
Timothy A. Bigelow
Quantifying the size of the tissue microstructure using the backscattered power spectrum has had limited success due to frequency-dependent attenuation along the propagation path, thus masking the frequency dependence of the scatterer size. Previously, the SPECTRAL FIT algorithm was developed to solve for total attenuation and scatterer size simultaneously [Bigelow et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 117, 1431-1439 (2005)]. Herein, the outcomes from signal processing strategies on the SPECTRAL FIT algorithm are investigated. The signal processing methods can be grouped into two categories, viz., methods that improve the performance of the algorithm and methods that provide insight. The methods that …