Optimization of ultrasound image quality via visual servoing
Abstract
— In this paper we propose a new ultrasound-based visual servoing framework, for the optimization of the positioning of an ultrasound probe manipulated by a robotic arm, in order to improve the quality of the acquired ultra-sound images. To this end, we use the recent framework of ultrasound confidence map, which aims at estimating the per-pixel quality of the ultrasound signal based on a model of sound propagation in soft tissues. More specifically, we treat the ultrasound confidence maps as a new modality to design a visual servoing control law for image quality optimization. The proposed framework aims at improving ultrasound imaging techniques, such as robotic tele-echography, target tracking or volume reconstruction. Here we illustrate our approach with the application of robotic tele-echography. Experiments are performed on both an ultrasound examination training phantom and ex vivo tissue samples.
Domains
Robotics [cs.RO]
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