[LAB Exploration] Ultra-High-Resolution Ultrasound Innovation: Visualizing Microvessels Thinner Than a Strand of Hair

A research team at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) has developed an ultra-high-resolution imaging technology that overcomes the limitations of conventional ultrasound, enabling clear observation of microvessels thinner than a strand of hair with minimal data.

From the left, Professor Yoo Jaeseok, PhD candidate Seong Hyojin, PhD candidate Jeong Jinhwan, Professor Hyun Jungho. DGIST

On November 21, DGIST announced that the research teams led by Professor Yoo Jaeseok of the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering and Professor Hyun Jungho of the Department of Brain Sciences have introduced "ULM-Lite," a significantly enhanced version of ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM).

Standard ultrasound used in hospitals struggles to distinguish microvessels thinner than a strand of hair. To address this, ULM technology tracks the movement of microbubbles in the bloodstream to create ultra-high-resolution vascular maps. However, it has been challenging to conduct long-term experiments or rapid analysis, as all the massive data-measured in several gigabytes (GB) per second-must be stored and analyzed.

The research team reduced the 'effective bandwidth' of the ultrasound signal by about 67% by retaining only the essential information and eliminating unnecessary frequency bands. As a result, "ULM-Lite" reduces data volume to one-third of the original amount while maintaining nearly the same image quality. The software can be applied without replacing existing equipment, and the image processing speed has improved by approximately 30%.

These technological improvements are highly significant for brain research and disease diagnostics. ULM-Lite enables noninvasive, high-clarity observation of the entire brain's microcirculation without surgery or fluorescent agents, making it highly promising for early diagnosis, assessment of treatment efficacy, and monitoring drug responses in major brain diseases such as stroke, dementia, and brain tumors. In addition, the reduced burden for data storage and transmission makes it suitable for long-term observation, large-area scanning, and multi-subject experiments, greatly improving accessibility in both research and clinical settings.

Professor Yoo Jaeseok stated, "We are working to integrate this technology with noninvasive ultrasound brain stimulation techniques currently under development," adding, "It is expected to be widely applicable in the diagnosis and treatment of various neurological and vascular diseases in the future."

This research, supported by the Excellent Young Researcher Program and Glocal Lab of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) under the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education, as well as the DGIST R&D Program, was recently published in the world-renowned medical ultrasound journal "Ultrasonics."

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