Insana Lab: Ultrasonic Imaging - The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Insana Lab: Ultrasound Research Interface (URI)

URI Information

The Axius^TM Direct Ultrasound Research Interface (URI) is an upgrade package developed and marketed by Siemens Medical Solutions Ultrasound Division, for the Siemens SONOLINE Antares^TM ultrasound system.

In the past, researchers only had access to DICOM or image data from clinical ultrasound scanners.  These data have limited utility in research applications, in large part due to the fact that it is the output of a long series of proprietary signal processing algorithms.  The Axius Direct URI allows researchers the ability to acquire data much earlier in the processing chain -- the beamformed RF data. 

(Figure used with permission of Wilko Wilkening, University of Bochum.)

Features

• Access to beamformed RF (radio-frequency) data
  
  • 16-bit, 40 MHz digital data
  • Up to 200 MB of beamformed RF data stored to file
  • Triggered data acquisition available with purchase of optional Physio Module
  • 2D images (B and C) displayed live during acquisition
• Structured data files
  • Matlab-based toolkit (URI-OPT) available for parsing the data file and applying standard processing to the data
  • Move files to CD or LAN connected workstation using browser interface
• Added control
  • Disable receive aperture growth and dynamic focusing
  • Move the receive aperture position
  • Change the receive aperture size (when aperture growth and dynamic focusing are disabled)
  • Move the receive focal position (in increments of 2 cm, when aperture growth and dynamic focusing are disabled)
  • Disable color vector interleaving
  • Change color vector ensemble (packet) size
• Record and playback macros of user events

Supported Probes

• Linear: VF7-3, VF10-5, VF13-5
• Curved: C5-2, CH4-1, CH6-2
• Phased: PH4-1
• Endocavity: EC9-4

Supported Modes

• B
• THI
• Color and Power Doppler
• Pulsed Doppler
• M-Mode

References

Brunke SS, Insana MF, Dahl JJ, Hansen C, Ashfaq M, Ermert H, "An ultrasound research interface for a clinical system," IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferrorelectr Freq Control, 54(1):198-210, 2007. PMID: 17225815.