Cross-correlation detection improves spatial delineation and enables high resolution tracking of temporal events in magnetomotive ultrasound imaging

Magnetomotive ultrasound (MM US) imaging is a method whereby superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO NP) are used as a contrast agent. By applying an external magnetic field the particles are set in motion together with their surroundings. The induced movement is detected with ultrasound, and for the case of harmonic excitation of the magnetic source, quadrature detection (lock-in plus phase gating) can recover the magnetomotive signal (doi:10.1109/TUFFC.2013.2591). Here, we propose instead the use of cross-correlation for detection, and report the potential benefits compared to the previous approach