PhD Courses in Denmark

The course gives an introduction to advanced research tools within medical ultrasound imaging. This includes tools for simulating ultrasound imaging (Field II), beamforming of data, acquiring data using research scanners with a research interface, SARUS – Synthetic Aperture Real time Ultrasound research scanner) and Verasonics, the Onda intensity measurement system, and various test set-ups. An exercise is conducted individually for all types of facilities, and the results are described in a final report. The lectures and exercises are given by the staff and PhD students in Center for Fast Ultrasound imaging that are responsible for the different facilities.

A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:

• simulate medical ultrasound systems.
• beamform acquired and simulated RF data for focusing.
• conduct ultrasound laboratory experiments.
• write programs for acquiring research data.
• develop advanced imaging sequences in ultrasound.
• conduct intensity measurements to abide by FDA rules.
• make simple clinical scans.
• document programs for research purposes.

Lecture 1: Theory of linear acoustics, spatial impulse response, Simple uses of Field II for array; emitted fields, CW, PSFs, intensities and how to calibrate Exercise 1: Field II using simple examples: psf + intensities Lecture 2: Simulating imaging systems, simple & complex Exercise 2: B-mode imaging phantoms Lecture 3: Beam formation toolbox - Geometric setup Exercise 3: Dynamic receive focusing/fixed focusing Lecture 4: SARUS and Verasonics: Lecture 1: Architecture and function Lecture 5: SARUS and Verasonics: lecture 2: System library Exercise 4: Acquisition of linear array data Lecture 6: Lecture 2: Fixed F# and apodization Exercise 5: Beamformation of linear array data Lecture 7: Synthetic aperture imaging and beamform along different lines Exercise 6: Beamformation Lecture 8: Onda intensity measurement system Exercise 7: Measurement of PSF for single element transducer Lecture 9: Commercial research scanner Acquisition and start of exercise Exercise 8: Acquisition of B-mode data Lecture 10: Commercial scanner: Data acquisition exercise, data from research interface Exercise 9: Processing of data and interpolation Lecture 11: Advanced simulations: flow and SA imaging and using SLURM Exercise 10: Field II flow on SLURM Lecture 12: Flow rig Exercise 11: Acquisition of flow data using the ProFocus Lecture 13: Use of the pulsatile flow pump Exercise 12: Acquisition of flow with carotid waveform Lecture 14: Clinical session – Scanning using clinical scanners Exercise 13: Scan major organs in the body Lecture 15: Hand in of report