Development and clinical application of ultrasound diagnostic and therapeutic assistance technologies

Abstract

Recent advances in ultrasound medical technology have been remarkable, particularly in the realm of diagnostic and therapeutic support for the abdominal region. New technologies utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) such as improved B-mode imaging, differential diagnosis of liver tumors, and microvascular flow imaging (MVFI) are being used clinically. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques, including liver and spleen stiffness measurements and attenuation coefficient measurements for fatty liver evaluation, are being established. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has enhanced diagnostic capabilities through contrast enhancement and stiffness diagnosis. In therapeutic support technology, fusion imaging has shown notable progress. While image registration between different modalities previously required manual setting of anatomical landmarks, the development of hepatic vascular morphology recognition and AI-based automatic registration now enables more accurate and convenient image integration. The author has devoted research to developing ultrasound diagnostic and therapeutic support technologies, focusing particularly on establishing noninvasive diagnostic methods for spleen stiffness measurement and liver fat quantification, as well as improving therapeutic techniques utilizing fusion imaging technology. This paper presents the author’s research achievements that have evolved alongside technological progress in medical ultrasonics.