Ultrasound speckle tracking method based on gradient optical flow to quantify small longitudinal displacement, shear and longitudinal strain in peripheral nerves

Snoj, Žiga (avtor), Omejec, Gregor (avtor), Javh, Jaka (avtor), Umek, Nejc (avtor)

Objective: This study aimed to develop, validate and test the clinical feasibility of ultrasound (US) speckle tracking method based on gradient optical flow for quantifying small longitudinal displacements, shear and strain in peripheral nerves. Methods: The speckle tracking method was validated using seven thawed, fresh-frozen isolated cadaveric forearms. Longitudinal motion of the median nerve was captured using a high-frequency 22 MHz linear probe. An air bubble marker was inserted as a reference point for manual measurement comparison. The precision and accuracy of the method were assessed by comparing manual and automatic measurements. Clinical feasibility was tested on eight healthy subjects, measuring the longitudinal displacement of the median nerve during elbow extension and shoulder anteflexion. Results: The method demonstrated linearity, high precision and accuracy, particularly with a backtrace of five frames, reducing the displacement underestimation to 4%. In cadaveric models, the highest shear strain was observed at the nerve-tissue interfaces. In healthy subjects, the mean displacement of the median nerve was 3.3 ± 1.0 mm, with good inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.87). Conclusion: The US speckle tracking method based on gradient optical flow effectively quantifies small longitudinal displacements and shear strain in peripheral nerves, with high precision and accuracy. However, the method could not detect longitudinal strain in nerves within the range of tested displacements. Future studies should investigate its applicability to smaller and deeper nerves and its usefulness in different pathological conditions.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: gradient optical flow, high-resolution ultrasound, peripheral nerve displacement, shear strain quantification, speckle tracking
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: MF - Medicinska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: Str. 280-287
• Številčenje: Vol. 51, iss. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-166345
• UDK: 616-07
• ISSN pri članku: 0301-5629
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2024.10.002
• COBISS.SI-ID: 214411267
• Datum objave v RUL: 08.01.2025

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Ultrasound in medicine & biology
• Skrajšan naslov: Ultrasound med. biol.
• Založnik: Elsevier, World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
• ISSN: 0301-5629
• COBISS.SI-ID: 26569984

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva-Nekomercialno-Brez predelav 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: Najbolj omejujoča licenca Creative Commons. Uporabniki lahko prenesejo in delijo delo v nekomercialne namene in ga ne smejo uporabiti za nobene druge namene.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: gradientni optični tok, ultrazvok visoke ločljivosti, premik perifernega živca, kvantifikacija strižne deformacije, pegasto sledenje

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: J3-4507
• Naslov: Razvoj metod v diagnostiki in zdravljenju sindroma karpalnega kanala

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P3-0043
• Naslov: Molekularni mehanizmi razvoja in delovanja skeletne mišice