@inproceedings{35814884cbf543b28cf47b463cfcccf6,
title = "Identifying Unique Acoustic Signatures from Chemically-Crosslinked Microbubble Clusters Using Deep Learning",
abstract = "Ultrasound contrast agents (UCA) are gas encapsulated microspheres that oscillate volumetrically when exposed to an ultrasound field producing a backscattered signal which can be used for improved ultrasound imaging and drug delivery. UCA's are being used widely for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, but there is a need for improved UCAs to develop faster and more accurate contrast agent detection algorithms. Recently, we introduced a new class of lipid based UCAs called Chemically Cross-linked Microbubble Clusters (CCMCs). CCMCs are formed by the physical tethering of individual lipid microbubbles into a larger aggregate cluster. The advantages of these novel CCMCs are their ability to fuse together when exposed to low intensity pulsed ultrasound (US), potentially generating unique acoustic signatures that can enable better contrast agent detection. In this study, our main objective is to demonstrate that the acoustic response of CCMCs is unique and distinct when compared to individual UCAs using deep learning algorithms. Acoustic characterization of CCMCs and individual bubbles was performed using a broadband hydrophone or a clinical transducer attached to a Verasonics Vantage 256. A simple artificial neural network (ANN) was trained and used to classify raw 1D RF ultrasound data as either from CCMC or non-tethered individual bubble populations of UCAs. The ANN was able to classify CCMCs at an accuracy of 93.8% for data collected from broadband hydrophone and 90% for data collected using Verasonics with a clinical transducer. The results obtained suggest the acoustic response of CCMCs is unique and has the potential to be used in developing a novel contrast agent detection technique.",
keywords = "Bubble coalescence, Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, Deep Learning, Microbubble, Ultrasound contrast agent",
author = "Teja Pathour and Nasrin Akter and Dormer, {James D.} and Sugandha Chaudhary and Baowei Fei and Shashank Sirsi",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported in part by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants (R01CA156775, R01CA204254, R01HL140325, and R21CA231911), by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) grant RP190588. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 SPIE. All rights reserved.; Medical Imaging 2022: Ultrasonic Imaging and Tomography ; Conference date: 21-03-2022 Through 27-03-2022",
year = "2022",
doi = "10.1117/12.2611572",
language = "English (US)",
series = "Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE",
publisher = "SPIE",
editor = "Nick Bottenus and Ruiter, {Nicole V.}",
booktitle = "Medical Imaging 2022",
}