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High-frame-rate Volumetric Porcine Cardiac Imaging

Wei, Luxi (author), Wahyulaksana, G. (author), Boni, Enrico (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Tortoli, Piero (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Volumetric echocardiography can potentially give a more complete picture of cardiac dynamics than its two-dimensional (2D) counterpart. Current clinical volumetric imaging probes have relatively low frame rates, and often require ECG gating to stitch together an entire volume. This makes measuring fast dynamics of the heart as well as imaging...

conference paper 2023

document

Optimization of Microbubble Concentration and Acoustic Pressure for Left Ventricular High Frame Rate EchoPIV in Patients

Voorneveld, J.D. (author), Keijzer, L.B.H. (author), Strachinaru, Mihai (author), Bowen, Daniel J. (author), Mutluer, Ferit O. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), Ten Cate, Folkert (author), de Jong, N. (author), Vos, H.J. (author), Van den Bosch, Annemien E. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author)

High-frame-rate (HFR) echo-particle image velocimetry (echoPIV) is a promising tool for measuring intracardiac blood flow dynamics. In this study, we investigate the optimal ultrasound contrast agent (UCA: SonoVue) infusion rate and acoustic output to use for HFR echoPIV (PRF = 4900 Hz) in the left ventricle (LV) of patients. Three infusion...

journal article 2021

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High Frame Rate Volumetric Imaging of Microbubbles Using a Sparse Array and Spatial Coherence Beamforming

Wei, Luxi (author), Wahyulaksana, G. (author), Meijlink, Bram (author), Ramalli, Alessandro (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Volumetric ultrasound imaging of blood flow with microbubbles enables a more complete visualization of the microvasculature. Sparse arrays are ideal candidates to perform volumetric imaging at reduced manufacturing complexity and cable count. However, due to the small number of transducer elements, sparse arrays often come with high clutter...

journal article 2021

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Higher Order Singular Value Decomposition Filter for Contrast Echocardiography

Wahyulaksana, G. (author), Wei, Luxi (author), Voorneveld, J.D. (author), Hekkert, Maaike Te Lintel (author), Strachinaru, Mihai (author), Duncker, Dirk J. (author), de Jong, N. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Assessing the coronary circulation with contrast-enhanced echocardiography has high clinical relevance. However, it is not being routinely performed in clinical practice because the current clinical tools generally cannot provide adequate image quality. The contrast agent's visibility in the myocardium is generally poor, impaired by motion...

journal article 2023

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Opening of endothelial cell–cell contacts due to sonoporation

Beekers, D.I. (author), Vegter, Merel (author), Lattwein, Kirby R. (author), Mastik, Frits (author), Beurskens, Robert (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Kooiman, Klazina (author)

Ultrasound insonification of microbubbles can locally increase vascular permeability to enhance drug delivery. To control and optimize the therapeutic potential, we need to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms of the drug delivery pathways. The aim of this in vitro study was to elucidate the microbubble-endothelial cell...

journal article 2020

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A direct comparison of natural and acoustic-radiation-force-induced cardiac mechanical waves

Keijzer, Lana B.H. (author), Caenen, A.F.M. (author), Voorneveld, J.D. (author), Strachinaru, Mihai (author), Bowen, Daniel J. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Natural and active shear wave elastography (SWE) are potential ultrasound-based techniques to non-invasively assess myocardial stiffness, which could improve current diagnosis of heart failure. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gap between both techniques and discuss their respective impacts on cardiac stiffness evaluation. We recorded...

journal article 2020

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Theranostic Microbubbles with Homogeneous Ligand Distribution for Higher Binding Efficacy

Langeveld, Simone A.G. (author), Meijlink, Bram (author), Beekers, Inés (author), Olthof, Mark (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Kooiman, Klazina (author)

Phospholipid-coated targeted microbubbles are used for ultrasound molecular imaging and locally enhanced drug delivery, with the binding efficacy being an important trait. The use of organic solvent in microbubble production makes the difference between a heterogeneous or homogeneous ligand distribution. This study demonstrates the effect of...

journal article 2022

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The preparation of chicken ex ovo embryos and chorioallantoic membrane vessels as in vivo model for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and microbubble-mediated drug delivery studies

Meijlink, Bram (author), Skachkov, Ilya (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Kooiman, Klazina (author)

The chicken embryo and the blood-vessel rich chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a valuable in vivo model to investigate biomedical processes, new ultrasound pulsing schemes, or novel transducers for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and microbubble-mediated drug delivery. The reasons for this are the accessibility of the embryo and vessel...

journal article 2021

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Vancomycin-decorated microbubbles as a theranostic agent for Staphylococcus aureus biofilms

Kouijzer, Joop J.P. (author), Lattwein, Kirby R. (author), Beekers, Inés (author), Langeveld, Simone A.G. (author), Leon-Grooters, Mariël (author), Strub, Jean Marc (author), Oliva, Estefania (author), de Jong, N. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author)

Bacterial biofilms are a huge burden on our healthcare systems worldwide. The lack of specificity in diagnostic and treatment possibilities result in difficult-to-treat and persistent infections. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate if microbubbles targeted specifically to bacteria in biofilms could be used both for diagnosis as...

journal article 2021

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Coupling Two Ultra-high-Speed Cameras to Elucidate Ultrasound Contrast-Mediated Imaging and Therapy

Li, H. (author), Li, X. (author), Collado Lara, G. (author), Lattwein, K.R. (author), Mastik, Frits (author), Beurskens, Robert (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), Verweij, M.A. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Kooiman, Klazina (author)

Ultrasound contrast-mediated medical imaging and therapy both rely on the dynamics of micron- and nanometer-sized ultrasound cavitation nuclei, such as phospholipid-coated microbubbles and phase-change droplets. Ultrasound cavitation nuclei respond non-linearly to ultrasound on a nanosecond time scale that necessitates the use of ultra-high...

journal article 2023

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The impact of lipid handling and phase distribution on the acoustic behavior of microbubbles

Langeveld, Simone A.G. (author), Beekers, Inés (author), Collado Lara, G. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Kooiman, Klazina (author)

Phospholipid-coated microbubbles are ultrasound contrast agents that can be employed for ultrasound molecular imaging and drug delivery. For safe and effective implementation, microbubbles must respond uniformly and predictably to ultrasound. Therefore, we investigated how lipid handling and phase distribution affected the variability in the...

journal article 2021

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High-Frame-Rate Volumetric Porcine Renal Vasculature Imaging

Wei, Luxi (author), Wahyulaksana, G. (author), Boni, Enrico (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), Duncker, Dirk J. (author), Tortoli, Piero (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and imaging options of contrast-enhanced volumetric ultrasound kidney vasculature imaging in a porcine model using a prototype sparse spiral array. Methods: Transcutaneous freehand in vivo imaging of two healthy porcine kidneys was performed according to three protocols with...

journal article 2023

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Continuous shear wave measurements for dynamic cardiac stiffness evaluation in pigs

Caenen, Annette (author), Keijzer, Lana (author), Bézy, Stéphanie (author), Duchenne, Jürgen (author), Orlowska, Marta (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Voigt, Jens Uwe (author), D’hooge, Jan (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Ultrasound-based shear wave elastography is a promising technique to non-invasively assess the dynamic stiffness variations of the heart. The technique is based on tracking the propagation of acoustically induced shear waves in the myocardium of which the propagation speed is linked to tissue stiffness. This measurement is repeated multiple...

journal article 2023

document

Combined optical sizing and acoustical characterization of single freely-floating microbubbles

Luan, Ying (author), Renaud, Guillaume (author), Raymond, Jason L. (author), Segers, Tim (author), Lajoinie, Guillaume (author), Beurskens, Robert (author), Mastik, Frits (author), Kokhuis, Tom J A (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), Versluis, Michel (author), de Jong, N. (author)

In this study we present a combined optical sizing and acoustical characterization technique for the study of the dynamics of single freely-floating ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles exposed to long burst ultrasound excitations up to the milliseconds range. A co-axial flow device was used to position individual microbubbles on a...

journal article 2016

document

Sparse 2-D PZT-on-PCB Arrays With Density Tapering

Wei, Luxi (author), Boni, Enrico (author), Ramalli, Alessandro (author), Fool, F. (author), Noothout, E.C. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Tortoli, Piero (author), de Jong, N. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

Two-dimensional (2-D) arrays offer volumetric imaging capabilities without the need for probe translation or rotation. A sparse array with elements seeded in a tapering spiral pattern enables one-to-one connection to an ultrasound machine, thus allowing flexible transmission and reception strategies. To test the concept of sparse spiral array...

journal article 2022

document

Cardiac Shear Wave Velocity Detection in the Porcine Heart

Vos, H.J. (author), van Dalen, Bas M. (author), Heinonen, Ilkka (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), Sorop, Oana (author), Duncker, Dirk J. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author)

Cardiac muscle stiffness can potentially be estimated non-invasively with shear wave elastography. Shear waves are present on the septal wall after mitral and aortic valve closure, thus providing an opportunity to assess stiffness in early systole and early diastole. We report on the shear wave recordings of 22 minipigs with high-frame-rate...

journal article 2017

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Dispersing and Sonoporating Biofilm-Associated Bacteria with Sonobactericide

Lattwein, K.R. (author), Beekers, Inés (author), Kouijzer, Joop J.P. (author), Leon-Grooters, Mariël (author), Langeveld, Simone A.G. (author), van Rooij, Tom (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), van Wamel, Willem J.B. (author), Kooiman, Klazina (author)

Bacteria encased in a biofilm poses significant challenges to successful treatment, since both the immune system and antibiotics are ineffective. Sonobactericide, which uses ultrasound and microbubbles, is a potential new strategy for increasing antimicrobial effectiveness or directly killing bacteria. Several studies suggest that...

journal article 2022

document

Internalization of targeted microbubbles by endothelial cells and drug delivery by pores and tunnels

Beekers, Inés (author), Langeveld, Simone A.G. (author), Meijlink, Bram (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Verweij, M.D. (author), Kooiman, Klazina (author)

Ultrasound insonification of microbubbles can locally enhance drug delivery by increasing the cell membrane permeability. To aid development of a safe and effective therapeutic microbubble, more insight into the microbubble-cell interaction is needed. In this in vitro study we aimed to investigate the initial 3D morphology of the endothelial...

journal article 2022

document

Cardiac Shear Wave Elastography Using a Clinical Ultrasound System

Strachinaru, Mihai (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), van Dalen, Bas M. (author), van Gils, Lennart (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Geleijnse, Marcel L. (author), Vos, H.J. (author)

The propagation velocity of shear waves relates to tissue stiffness. We prove that a regular clinical cardiac ultrasound system can determine shear wave velocity with a conventional unmodified tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) application. The investigation was performed on five tissue phantoms with different stiffness using a research platform...

journal article 2017

document

Microbubble Composition and Preparation for High-Frequency Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging: In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation

Daeichin, Verya (author), van Rooij, Tom (author), Skachkov, Ilya (author), Ergin, Bulent (author), Specht, Patricia A.C. (author), Lima, Alexandre (author), Ince, Can (author), Bosch, Johan G. (author), van der Steen, A.F.W. (author), de Jong, N. (author), Kooiman, Klazina (author)

Although high-frequency ultrasound imaging is gaining attention in various applications, hardly any ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) dedicated to such frequencies (>15 MHz) are available for contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging. Moreover, the composition of the limited commercially available UCAs for high-frequency CEUS (hfCEUS) is...

journal article 2017