Double-Difference Framework for Improved Localization of Cavitation Events in Passive Cavitation
Affiliation Type:
Academia
Keywords:
Passive cavitation imaging, Double-difference
Abstract:
This study proposes a novel double-difference-based localization framework to improve the accuracy of cavitation source localization in ultrasound therapy, especially addressing limitations in axial resolution. The method adapts a technique from seismic source inversion and incorporates three key components in its loss function: double-difference residuals from closely spaced event pairs, spatial priors within the treatment region, and delay–distance consistency. The framework was validated using three experimental models: a wire phantom, a vessel phantom with flowing microbubbles, and an in vivo tumor model. Cavitation signals were passively recorded with clinical transducers, and localization was compared across three methods: no wavefront correction (No WFC), with wavefront correction (WFC), and the proposed double-difference method (DPCM). Results showed that DPCM consistently outperformed the other methods, achieving higher inclusion rates (In/Total%) and lower localization errors across all models. These improvements were statistically significant, demonstrating DPCM’s enhanced accuracy and robustness for cavitation mapping in therapeutic ultrasound.
