Naomi Yagi

Data synthesis for trans-skull brain imaging by 0.5 and 1.0MHz ultrasonic array systems

This paper describes a data synthesis method of two ultrasonic waves for visualizing brain image under skull. In it, we employ 0.5MHz and 1.0MHz ultrasonic array probes. We synthesize the waves of 0.5MHz and 1.0MHz and visualize the sulcus and skull. We perform the experiment with a cow scapula as a skull and a steel sulcus as a cerebral sulcus. We calculate the thickness of the bone from the synthesized waves. The thickness is determined from the surface and bottom points determined from the wave. The surface point is easily determined from the wave. The bottom point is determined by fuzzy inference. The sulcus surface was extracted from a B-mode image made from the synthesized waves. As the result, we successfully determined the skull depth and visualized the sulcus from the synthesized waves in comparison to the results obtained from each waves of 0.5MHz or 1.0MHz.

YURAGI: analysis for trans-skull brain visualizing by ultrasonic array probe

This paper proposes a YURAGI-Analysis for brain imaging under the skull. In it, we employ 1.0MHz and 0.5MHz ultrasonic waves. We consider the weighted sum of these waves and attempt to extract the skull depth and image the sulcus under it. We add 1.0MHz and 0.5MHz, and we add the waves of 1.0MHz and Gaussian noise as the YURAGI analysis. We visualize the sulcus and skull. First, we calculate the thickness of the skull from the each of two synthesized waves. The thickness is determined from the surface and bottom points determined from the wave based on fuzzy inference. The sulcus surface was extracted from B-mode images for the each of two synthesized waves. As the result using a cow scapula as the skull and steel ditch as the human sulcus, we successfully calculated skull thickness. We extracted the sulcus width within the error of 5.86 mm and depth within the error of 1.94 mm. As for imaging the sulcus under the skull, the highest effectiveness of the synthesized wave is 96.30% when the weight of 0.5MHz waves is 0.60, and the one of YURAGI-Analysis wave is 97.15% when the weight is 0.003. Thus, YURAGI-Analysis is useful to this study.

Trans-skull brain imaging by image registration of 0.5 and 1.0 MHz waves

This paper describes an ultrasonic array system by analyzing data for visualizing brain image under skull. We perform the experiment with a cow scapula as a skull and a steel sulcus as a lateral cerebral sulcus. We employ 1.0MHz and 0.5MHz ultrasonic array probes. The waves of them have some superiority, respectively. The 0.5MHz waves have higher penetration and the 1.0MHz waves have higher resolution. With taking each advantage of them, we synthesize with the waves of 1.0MHz and 0.5MHz. After that, we visualize the sulcus and skull. We calculate the thickness of the bone from the synthesized waves. The thickness is determined from the surface and the bottom points. The surface point is easily determined from the wave. The bottom point is determined by using fuzzy inference. The sulcus surface was extracted from a B-mode image made from the synthesized waves. As the result, we have calculated the best result of the weight of 0.4. Moreover, we extracted the steel sulcus images of the highest efficiency with the weight of 0.5.

Soft computing approaches to identify cellular quantity of artificial culture bone

This paper describes soft computing identification methods for cellular quantity of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells in artificial culture bones. We attempt to identify cellular quantity with an ultrasonic system and approaches of a neural network and a fuzzy inference. We employ two features; amplitude and frequency. Amplitude is obtained from the raw ultrasonic wave, and frequency is calculated from frequency spectrum obtained by applying cross-spectrum method. A comparison was done with the multi regression method. The neural network approach identifies the cellular quantity with the highest accuracy.

Inappropriate Timing of Swallow in the Respiratory Cycle Causes Breathing–Swallowing Discoordination

Rationale: Swallowing during inspiration and swallowing immediately followed by inspiration increase the chances of aspiration and may cause disease exacerbation. However, the mechanisms by which such breathing–swallowing discoordination occurs are not well-understood. Objectives: We hypothesized that breathing–swallowing discoordination occurs when the timing of the swallow in the respiratory cycle is inappropriate. To test this hypothesis, we monitored respiration and swallowing activity in healthy subjects and in patients with dysphagia using a non-invasive swallowing monitoring system. Measurements and Main Results: The parameters measured included the timing of swallow in the respiratory cycle, swallowing latency (interval between the onset of respiratory pause and the onset of swallow), pause duration (duration of respiratory pause for swallowing), and the breathing–swallowing coordination pattern. We classified swallows that closely follow inspiration (I) as I-SW, whereas those that precede I as SW-I pattern. Patients with dysphagia had prolonged swallowing latency and pause duration, and tended to have I-SW or SW-I patterns reflecting breathing–swallows discoordination. Conclusions: We conclude that swallows at inappropriate timing in the respiratory cycle cause breathing–swallowing discoordination, and the prolongation of swallowing latency leads to delayed timing of the swallow, and results in an increase in the SW-I pattern in patients with dysphagia.

Breathing–swallowing discoordination is associated with frequent exacerbations of COPD

Introduction Impaired coordination between breathing and swallowing (breathing–swallowing discoordination) may be a significant risk factor for the exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined breathing–swallowing discoordination in patients with COPD using a non-invasive and quantitative technique and determined its association with COPD exacerbation. Methods We recruited 65 stable outpatients with COPD who were enrolled in our prospective observational cohort study and did not manifest an apparent swallowing disorder. COPD exacerbation was monitored for 1 year before and 1 year after recruitment. Swallowing during inspiration (the I-SW pattern) and swallowing immediately followed by inspiration (the SW-I pattern) were identified. Results The mean frequency of the I-SW and/or SW-I patterns (I-SW/SW-I rate) was 21.5%±25.5%. During the 2-year observation period, 48 exacerbation incidents (25 patients) were identified. The I-SW/SW-I rate was significantly associated with the frequency of exacerbation. During the year following recruitment, patients with a higher I-SW/SW-I frequency using thicker test foods exhibited a significantly higher probability of future exacerbations (p=0.002, log-rank test). Conclusions Breathing–swallowing discoordination is strongly associated with frequent exacerbations of COPD. Strategies that identify and improve breathing–swallowing coordination may be a new therapeutic treatment for patients with COPD.

Human brain ultrasound-mediated diagnosis in emergency medicine and home health care

This paper describes human brain ultrasound-mediated diagnosis in emergency medicine and home health care. The ultrasonic equipment has many advantages, for example, the very simple operation to touch to the body surface diagnosis enables real-time visual recognition for heart beat and unborn baby moving, and so on. The ultrasonic diagnosis is safety to human body and many repetitions. The goal of our research is the portable and real time brain diagnosis under the thick-skull. In our experiment, we employ two ultrasonic array probes with the center frequency of 1.0MHz and 0.5MHz. The choice of ultrasonic frequency is a trade-off between spatial resolution of the image and imaging depth. We perform the experiment with a cow scapula as a skull and a steel sulcus as a lateral cerebral sulcus. As the results, the synthesized image in Wavelet transform has higher efficiency than the other synthesizing on the images for the bone and the sulcus.

Estimation system for total hip arthroplasty by acoustic signal

This paper describes an analysis method of most suitable rasp for the patients by using the ultrasonic system. In it, we employ the single ultrasonic probe. At first, we make a knock to the upper point of the rasp inserted with a hammer which has the trigger signals. By using the knocking signals, we measured the acoustic signals. An ultrasonic probe for measuring is fixed in the upper side of the rasp with a built-in magnet. The acoustic data is changed to the digital data by the AD converter and is sent to the personal computer. In the clinical treatment, one of the indexes to judge how degree the rasp is fixed for the patient is the knocked sound by a hammer when inserting the rasp. In the surgery, the surgeon tries to adapt for the patient from the small size rasp to the larger size rasp in turn. Therefore, we suggest our measurement system which selects the best fixed rasp by using acoustic signal for surgeons and patients of total hip arthroplasty.

Swallow-monitoring system with acoustic analysis for dysphagia

Dysphagia is a medical term for difficulty of swallowing. For these patients, silent aspiration or aspiration without coughing lead to aspiration pneumonia. Generally, Video Fluoroscopic (VF) swallow-testing is performed to evaluate swallowing movement. The purpose of VF is the detailed evaluation and diagnosis of dysphagia. Based on them, the examiner estimates how to approach for dysphagia, and provides appropriately adjusted food consistency. However, this testing has some serious problems that include X-ray exposure and lack of mobility, and so on. Therefore, this study proposes a nonrestrictive and noninvasive swallow-monitoring system using acoustic analysis. This system works on observation of swallowing and breathing, and detects swallowing based on acoustic frequency factors and respiratory flow. As a result, this study developed an algorism for swallowing detection with high specificity. Moreover, it is discussed and concluded on the findings associated with the frequency properties of swallowing and non-swallowing behaviors.

Ultrasonic Frequency Response Analysis for Quantitative Measurements in Bone Marrow Stromal Cells

Bone tissue engineering techniques have become new approaches in bone regeneration. Before clinical implantation, the preconditioning is needed. Therefore, we implement the ultrasonic evaluation system without cellular destruction. This study focuses the cellular proliferation into the composites of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) / β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and composes the ultrasonic cell quantity determination on frequency domain for the BMSCs / β-TCP composites after being cultured: 4 types BMSCs to 24 β-TCP scaffolds. This system aims viscous attenuation because viscosity is proportional to frequency-squared. On frequency domain, we confirmed the attenuation in the immediate vicinity of 1.0 MHz, which is the center frequency of the probe. Moreover, it is discussed and concluded, the findings in this work illustrate that the frequency properties of BMSCs / ß-TCP composites have the prominent osteoconductive activity and the potential for applications/approaches in future regenerative medicine.