Speckle is the random granular texture that obscures anatomy in ultrasound images usually called noise. Speckle is created by a complex interference of ultrasound echoes made by reflectors spaced closer together than the machine’s resolution limits. The issue of speckle can be reduced with higher frequency imaging, but this of course would limit the depth of the ultrasound penetration. Speckle cannot be directly correlated with reflectors, or cells and are thus an artifact of ultrasound technology.
SRI, Speckle Reduction Imaging is the first real-time algorithm that removes speckle without the disadvantages that have plagued other methods. The adaptive nature of the SRI algorithm allows it to smooth regions where no feature or edges exist, while maintaining and enhancing edges and borders. It has been shown that SRI increases contrast resolution by increasing signal to noise ratio. Additionally, the algorithm does not eliminate any information so diagnostic criteria is preserved. Such image quality improvements can increase consistency in diagnosis, reduce patient and operator dependence and ultimately improve diagnostic competency and confidence.
Speckle is the random granular texture that obscures anatomy in ultrasound images usually called noise. Speckle is created by a complex interference of ultrasound echoes made by reflectors spaced closer together than the machine’s resolution limits. The issue of speckle can be reduced with higher frequency imaging, but this of course would limit the depth of the ultrasound penetration. Speckle cannot be directly correlated with reflectors, or cells and are thus an artifact of ultrasound technology.
Ultrasound Image Reflector Location Envelope Data Magnification of optical and ultrasound images illustrate that speckle seen in an ultrasound image is not directly related to physical structure such as a liver cell Amplitude and Phase Sum Resolved Reflectors Resolution Limit Complex Interference 20 micron
SRI, Speckle Reduction Imaging, is an advanced image processing technique to remove speckle and is available exclusively on GE Logiq ultrasound systems. SRI is based on the most recent advances in real-time adaptive image processing and is enabled by the computational power of GE Ultrasound’s TruScan Architecture.
Magnification of optical and ultrasound images illustrate that speckle seen in an ultrasound image is not directly related to physical structure such as a liver cell
The SRI algorithm works by analyzing the image pixel-by-pixel, and classifying each as ‘Mostly Speckle’ or ‘Mostly Feature’. This is done by comparing neighboring pixels to see if variations have a sharp difference, follow a trend or are random in nature. Random variations are considered random in nature and are thus suppressed.
By accurately recognizing the difference between speckle and feature, SRI is able to appropriately suppress speckle while maintaining feature resulting in an image that looks more like the actual tissue and provides greater diagnostic confidence.
SRI algorithm on typical liver showing: (a) edge enhancement (b) speckle suppression (c) feature presentation Original SRI Table showing the dramatic decrease in variation and increase in SNR with using SRI
By dramatically improving signal to noise ratio, the benefits from SRI are similar to those from crossbeam although the method of image processing is entirely different. The image is optimized when SRI is used in conjunction with crossbeam.
The benefits of CrossXBeam are synergistically enhanced when combined with SRI (Speckle Reduction Imaging) in order to achieve and optimized signal to noise ratio.