Microbubble Localization Compensation-Based Motion Correction for Ultrasound Localization Microscopy of Spinal Cord

Microvasculature is crucial for spinal cord blood supply. Delayed intervention in cases of vasculature disruption following spinal cord injury can result in irreversible sensory loss or, in severe instances, paralysis. Therefore, accurate assessment of spinal cord vasculature is essential for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) provides a new perspective for monitoring microhemodynamics within the spinal cord, offering subwavelength-resolution and deep penetration. However, despite mechanical stabilization, unavoidable tissue motion induced by breathing and heartbeat brings challenge for accurate evaluation of ULM. This challenge is especially pronounced in the spinal cord, given its unique structural characteristics. In this study, we proposed a motion correction method based on microbubble position compensation to improve the performance of spinal cord ULM imaging. In vivo experimental results demonstrated that the improved ULM achieves higher resolution and depicts more continuous microvessels.