Clinical breast imaging with ultrasound tomography: A description of the SoftVue system

• DOI: 10.1121/1.4876990
• Publication Date: 2014-05-21T00:35:08Z
• Authors: Neb Duric; Peter Littrup; Olivier Roy; Cuiping Li; Steve Schmidt; Xiaoyang Cheng; Roman Janer
• Keywords: Breast imaging; Tomographic reconstruction

We describe the technical design and performance of SoftVue, a breast imaging device based on principles ultrasound tomography. SoftVue's sensor is ring shaped transducer operating at 3 MHz consisting 2048 elements. Data acquisition achieved through 512 receive channels. The encircles breast, which immersed in warm water while patient lies prone position. translated vertically to acquire data from entire breast. acquired are used reconstruct images using tomographic inversions. reconstruction engine around blade-server that houses multiple CPUs GPUs. Separate algorithms reflection, sound speed, attenuation images. A scan generates stack each type image. system was designed with clinical goal detecting characterizing masses their biomechanical morphological properties. Ongoing studies being assess under realistic settings. Results assessment presented. [The authors acknowledge research support National Cancer Institute (5 R44 CA165320-03). Neb Duric Peter Littrup also they have financial interests SoftVue technology.]