The first carpometacarpal (CMC-1) joint is a common site of osteoarthritis (OA). The joint disease commonly presents with inflammation of the synovial membrane, synovitis. Inflammation and the formation of new blood vessels, angiogenesis, are integrated processes. Increased blood flow, angiogenesis and inflammation of the synovial tissue can contribute to symptoms of OA. The role angiogenesis plays in pathogenesis and disease progression is not fully understood. Imaging modalities, such as power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US) can detect blood flow. Recently, a new Doppler ultrasound technique, superb microvascular imaging (SMI), was developed and uses an algorithm that can more effectively visualize low-velocity blood flow. To better understand the role of angiogenesis in OA and to visualize the three-dimensional (3D) vasculature, we developed a 3DUS system. This paper is a preliminary study, which demonstrates our 3DUS system acquiring PD and SMI images for CMC-1 OA to provide quantification as well as improved blood flow visualization. As part of a clinical trial, a patient presenting with CMC-1 OA was imaged using 3DUS PD and SMI technologies to quantify the synovial volume and Doppler signals. We found synovial Doppler signals present in 3D PD and SMI images. To optimize the temperature of the device scanning solution, healthy volunteers were imaged at increasing temperatures. The Doppler signals in the blood vessels were quantified and we observed an increase in Doppler signal with higher temperatures. This work demonstrates the ability of the 3DUS PD and SMI system to detect, quantify, and visualize vessel and synovial blood flow.
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