Radiology Cover Article: Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging of Peripheral Nerve Microcirculation

A recent study led by Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine has been published as a cover article in Radiology, one of the most influential journals in the field of medical imaging.

The study focuses on the in vivo visualization and quantitative assessment of peripheral nerve microcirculation in patients with diabetes, using super-resolution ultrasound imaging to reveal microvascular changes that are not accessible with conventional ultrasound techniques.

Imaging Approach and Technology

The research was performed on the VINNO ULTIMUS 9 ultrasound system, using the built-in Ultra-Resolution Microscopy (URM) software to implement super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS) imaging.

This approach enabled approximately 10 μm–scale visualization and quantification of tibial nerve microcirculation in adult clinical studies, allowing detailed assessment of vessel density, spatial distribution, and microvascular remodeling in vivo.

Clinical Value and Research Significance

By directly visualizing and quantifying peripheral nerve microcirculation, this work provides a new imaging pathway for

1. Improving understanding of diabetic peripheral neuropathy mechanisms

2. Supporting early detection of microvascular abnormalities

3. Enabling noninvasive evaluation of disease progression and treatment response

The study represents a high-quality, disease-oriented clinical research application of super-resolution ultrasound, demonstrating how advanced ultrasound platforms can support impactful translational and clinical investigations.

Image courtesy of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. From a study published in Radiology.

URM as a Research Platform

This Radiology cover article highlights the role of URM as an enabling research tool, supporting investigator-initiated studies that explore microcirculation, disease mechanisms, and functional vascular imaging across multiple clinical domains.

Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.250347