Education and Training
October 2012 – December 2012: Guest Researcher at School
of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta,
GA, USA. Research theme: “Bulkwave Frequency Steerable
Acoustic Transducers”. Supervisor: Prof. Massimo Ruzzene.
May 2008 – May 2009: Guest Researcher at Institute of
Medical Engineering, Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB), Bochum,
Germany. Research theme: “Fast Simulation of Non-linear
Ultrasound Fields”. Supervisor: Prof. Georg Schmitz.
April 2006 – September 2006: Visiting Ph.D at
Audiovisual Communications Laboratory (LCAV), Ecole Polytechnique
Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne,
Switzerland. Research theme: “Wavelet techniques for
Biological Signal Processing”. Supervisor: Prof. Martin
Vetterli.
January 2005 – April 10th, 2006: Ph.D. Degree in
Information Technologies at Advanced Research Center on Electronic
Systems “E. De Castro” (ARCES), University of Bologna,
Italy. Ph.D. Degree in Information Technologies with a
thesis titled “Adaptive Multi scale Biological S ignal
Processing”. The work describes methods and algorithms useful
to deal with the typical non-idealities present in ultrasound
imaging and extracellular recordings in order to improve the
overall accuracy of these methods. Excerpts of this work have
already been presented at international conferences. Supervisor:
Prof. Ing. Guido Masetti.
October 2002 – July 22nd, 2004: Master Level Degree with
honors in Electronic Engineering with specialization in
Microelectronics and Sensor Systems received from “Alma Mater
Studiorum” - University of Bologna, Italy. M.Sc. in
Electronic Engineering with a thesis titled “Metodi per
la classificazione in tempo reale di tessuti biologici”
(Biological tissues real-time classification methods). The work
describes the optimization of a biological tissues classification
algorithm applied to ultrasonic signals in order to achieve
real-time signal processing capabilities. The result of this work
consists in an algorithm for non-linear echographic signal
processing which has been presented at the conference “2004
International Symposium on Nonlinear Theory and its Applications”
(NOLTA2004) in December 2004. Supervisors: Prof. Ing. Guido
Masetti, Prof. Ing. Sergio Graffi.
September 1999 – July 24th, 2002: Bachelor Level Degree
with honors in Electronic Engineering received from “Alma Mater
Studiorum” - University of Bologna, Italy. B.Sc in
Electronic Engineering with a thesis titled “Implementazione di
un metodo geometrico per la definizione di Wavelet ortogonali”
(Implementation of a geometric method for the definition of
orthogonal Wavelets). The work describes a method for the
definition of orthogonal Wavelet functions using a characterization
based on geometrical loci. Supervisors: Prof. Ing. Guido Masetti,
Prof. Ing. Sergio Graffi.
Research Activity
The research activity carried out up to now mostly concerned the
definition of algorithms and circuits dedicated to the analysis and
elaboration of signals exploiting the time-scale domain transform
based on the multiresolution operator.
The first contact with this research field occurred in September
2001 during probation activity. The application of the
waveletoperator to the identification and filtering of SONAR
pulses embedded in strong additive Gaussian noise was chosen as the
first research topic [8]. An extension of this work started in May
2002 during B.Sc thesis activity provided interesting results in
the definition of orthogonal wavelet functions, enlightening the
relationship between dilation equationcoefficient bounds and
some elementary geometrical loci.
In September 2002 research activity moved to the biomedical
field: the goal became the development and implementation of
hardware/software algorithms dedicated to ultrasound image
processing and filtering.
The use of the radio-frequency echo signal was considered
mandatory to enhance real-time diagnosis and classification of
biological tissues in both clinical and surgical environments.
Spectral parameters were investigated through the use of both
time-scale and time-frequency techniques. The optimization of
biological tissues classification methods brought to
the definition of an algorithm [9] capable of directly processing
the input data stream from the ultrasound transducer, thus
eliminating the separation between the signal acquisition and
elaboration phase. Algorithm optimization was carried out so
to implement them on various hardware support like DSP, FPGA and
SOG: in particular, some collateral projects, aimed to the
improvement of algorithm portability on SOG support, produced some
scientifically interesting results [10].
From September 2004 to July 2011 the research activity directed
toward the application of deconvolution based algorithms [3,11,14]
to the RF signal in order to eliminate the transducer impulse
response and subsequently improve the detection of cancerous region
in biological tissues.
Results in this field, discussing how its is possible to
integrate deconvolution techniques with advanced channel estimation
algorithms, were presented in [,4,15,16]. Here, a reduced
complexity Viterbi Algorithm is used in combination with adaptive
alphabet estimations and a bank of Least Mean Square adaptive
filters to perform ultrasound images deconvolution with very high
accuracy. Tissue characterization through speckle statistics was
also investigated in [12], showing that speckle noise in ultrasound
images, although it is usually regarded as something that must be
removed from the incoming signal to improve classification
performance, carries meaningful information about the tissue. These
results were also corroborated by extensive studies in the
urological medical field [5,6,7,25,26,27] by applying an ad-hoc
optimized version of the developed algorithm capable of real-time
ultrasound data processing [19].
Since September 2011 research activity investigated the
application of guided ultrasonic waves to the non-destructive
inspection and testing of homogeneous and composite materials.
The development of innovative smart sensors based on a
frequency-conscious transducer design allowed for the fast
inspection of plates for impact detection and damage assessment
[20]. Low power circuit design and compressed-sensing system
architecture [21,22,23,24] are deemed to be mandatory for the large
scale application of this technique in the aeronautical field.
Research activity carried out abroad consisted of 21 months.
First, during 2006, at the EPFL LCAV laboratory, performance
improvement of neural spike sorting algorithm was tackled by
developing an innovative flexible signal model and defining an
adaptive multiscale algorithm for signal denoising capable of
dealing with different noise models [13]. Then during 2008, at the
RUB Institute of Medical Engineering, fast and accurate techniques
for the simulation of non-linear ultrasound fields were developed
in order to better understand the effect that non-idealities have
on the nonlinear propagation of ultrasound pulses [17,18]. Finally,
during 2012, at the Gatech School of Aerospace Engineering, the
design of compact ultrasound sensors capable of steering the
acoustic beam according to its temporal frequency was tackled. An
invention disclosure was filed due to the originality and
flexibility of the sensor design [1].
Publications
- Invention disclosures
-
M. Ruzzene, N.Testoni, “Bulk Wave Frequency Steerable
Acoustic”, Georgia Tech Research Corporation ID# 6251.
- Contributions to books
-
A. Palladini, N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N. Speciale,
Acoustical Imaging vol. 29, “ML Estimation for Acoustical Image
Deblurring”, pp. 417-422, Kanagawa, Japan, 2008, Springer (ISBN
978-1-4020-8822-3).
- Journal papers
-
S. Maggio, N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N. Speciale, G.
Masetti, “Ultrasound Images Enhancement by means of Deconvolution
Algorithms in the Wavelet Domain”, WSEAS Transaction on Systems,
vol. 4, no. 11, pp. 1958-1965, 2005.
-
A. Palladini, N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N. Speciale, “A
Reduced Complexity Estimation Algorithm for Ultrasound Images
De-Blurring”, Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, vol.
95, no. 2, supplement 1, pp. S4-S11, 2009.
-
N. Testoni, N. Speciale, A. Bertaccini, D. Marchiori, M.
Fiorentino, F. Manferrari, R. Schiavina, R. Cividini, F. Galluzzo,
S. Maggio, E. Biagi, L. Masotti, G. Masetti, G. Martorana, “A
retrospective study to reduce prostate biopsy cores by a real time
interactive tool”, Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia, vol.
82, no. 4, pp. 238-241, 2010.
-
N. Testoni, N. Speciale, A. Bertaccini, D. Marchiori, M.
Fiorentino, F. Manferrari, R. Schiavina, R. Cividini, F. Galluzzo,
S. Maggio, E. Biagi, L. Masotti, G. Masetti, G. Martorana,
“Reducing the Number of Prostate Biopsy Cores Using a Real-Time
Tool”, Anticancer Research, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 1943-1944,
2011.
-
F. Galluzzo, N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N. Speciale, G.
Masetti, “Improving Prostate Biopsy Protocol with a Computer Aided
Detection Tool Based on Semi-supervised Learning”, Lecture Notes in
Computer Science, vol. 6963, pp. 109-120, 2011.
- International conference papers
-
A. Marcianesi, N. Testoni, R. Padovani, N. Speciale, G.
Masetti, “FPGA Implementation of QCWT Based Algorithm for Filtering
Low SNR Signals”, Proceedings of IEEE-EURASIP Workshop on Nonlinear
Signal and Image Processing (NSIP 2003), Grado, Italy, Jun
2003.
-
N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N. Speciale, G. Masetti,
“Real-time Classification Methods for Biological Tissues”,
Proceedings of IEICE (NOLTA 2004), pp. 537-540, Fukuoka, Japan,
Dec. 2004.
-
N. Testoni, M. Cisterni, E. Franchi, “A Regular
Modular Architecture for Pipelined Binary Tree Multipliers Based on
a SOG Structure”, Proceedings of 2005 Conference on Ph.D. Research
in Microelectronics and Electronics (PRIME 2005), pp. 44-47,
Lausanne, Switzerland, Jul. 2005.
-
S. Maggio, N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N. Speciale,
G. Masetti, “Wavelet-based Deconvolution Algorithms Applied to
Ultrasound Images”, International Conference on Signal Processing,
Computational Geometry and Artificial Vision (WSEAS 2005), pp.
77-81, Malta, Sept. 2005.
-
L. De Marchi, N. Testoni, N. Speciale, “Prostate
Tissue Characterization via Ultrasound Speckle Statistics”,
Proceedings of (ISSPIT 2006), pp. 208{211, Vancouver,Canada, Aug.
2006.
-
N. Testoni, N. Speciale, A. Ridolfi, C. Pouzat,
“Adaptive Wavelet-based signal Dejittering”, Proceedings of 2007
Conference on Ph.D. Research in Microelectronics and Electronics
(PRIME 2007), pp. 257-260, Bordeaux, France, Jun. 2007.
-
A. Palladini, N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N.
Speciale, “A Reduced Complexity Estimation Algorithm for Ultrasound
Images De-Blurring”, International Symposium on Computer-based
Medical Systems (CBMS 2007), pp. 275-280, Maribor, Slovenia, Jun.
2007.
-
L. De Marchi, A. Palladini, N. Testoni, N.
Speciale, “Blurred Ultrasonic Images as ISI-Affected Signals: Joint
Tissue Response Estimation and Channel Tracking in the Proposed
Paradigm”, IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS 2007), pp. 1270-1273,
New York, USA, Nov. 2007.
-
N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N. Speciale, G. Masetti,
“Non-Minimum Phase Iterative Deconvolution of Ultrasound Images”,
Proceedings of the 4th European conference of the International
Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE 2008), pp.
664-668, Antwerp, Belgium, Nov. 2008.
-
N. Testoni, K. Hensel, M. Siepmann, N. Speciale, G.
Schmitz, “Noniterative second harmonic ultrasound field
simulations: an axisymmetric approach”, Proceedings of 2009
NAG-DAGA International Conference on Acoustic (DAGA 2009),
Rotterdam, Netherlands, Mar. 2009.
-
N. Testoni, K. Hensel, M. Siepmann, N. Speciale, G.
Schmitz, “Fast Simulation of Second Harmonic Ultrasound Fileds”,
Proceedings of 2009 International Ultrasonic Symposium (IUS 2009),
Rome, Italy, Sep. 2009.
-
N. Testoni, S. Maggio, F. Galluzzo, L. De Marchi,
N. Speciale, “rtCAB: A tool for reducing unnecessary prostate
biopsy cores”, Proceedings of 2010 International Ultrasonic
Symposium (IUS 2010), San Diego, CA, USA, Oct. 2010.
-
L. De Marchi, A. Marzani, A. Perelli, N. Testoni
and N. Speciale, “Guided waves characterization of bamboo
fibers reinforced composites”, Proceedings of 2011
International Congress on Ultrasonics (ICU 2011), pp.447-450,
Gdansk, Poland, Sep. 2011.
-
L. De Marchi, E. Baravelli, N. Testoni, N.
Speciale, M. Ruzzene, “Low Power SHM via Frequency-Steerable
Acoustic Transducers and Compressive Sensing”, Proceedings of 6th
European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2012),
Dresden, Germany, Jul. 2012.
-
A. Perelli, T. Di Ianni, L. De Marchi, N. Testoni,
N. Speciale, “Compressive Sensing with Warped Frequency Models in
Lamb Waves Damage Detection Procedures”, Proceedings of 2012
International Ultrasonic Symposium (IUS 2012), Dresden, Germany,
Oct. 2012.
-
L. De Marchi, A. Marzani, M. Miniaci, A. Perelli, N.
Testoni, “Localization of defects in irregular waveguides by
dispersion compensation and pulse compression”, Proceedings of 2013
SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and
Health Monitoring, San Diego, USA, Mar 2013.
-
N. Testoni, L. De Marchi, N. Speciale, “Bulk wave
FSAT for 2D optic fiber endoscopic echography”, Proceedings of 2013
International Ultrasonic Symposium (IUS 2013), Prague, Czech
Republic, Jul. 2013, in press.
- National Conference Papers
-
N. Testoni, N. Speciale, A. Bertaccini, D. Marchiori, M.
Fiorentino, F. Manferrari, R. Schiavina, R. Cividini, E. Biagi, L.
Masotti, G. Masetti, G. Martorana, “A retrospective study to reduce
prostate biopsy cores by a real time interactive tool”, Atti del
17° Congresso Nazionale SIEUN, Bari, Italy, Nov. 2010.
-
N. Testoni, N. Speciale, A. Bertaccini, D. Marchiori, M.
Fiorentino, F. Manferrari, R. Schiavina, R. Cividini, M. Giampaoli,
S. Maggio, F. Galluzzo, G. Masetti, G. Martorana, “Reducing
Prostate Biopsy Cores by a Real Time Tool”, Atti del 21° Congresso
Nazionale SIUrO, Napoli, Italy, Jun. 2011.
-
D. Marchiori, N. Testoni, N. Speciale, A. Bertaccini, M.
Fiorentino, F. Manferrari, R. Schiavina, R. Cividini, M. Giampaoli,
F. Galluzzo, S. Maggio, G. Masetti, G. Martorana, “A one year
retrospective study to reduce prostate biopsy cores by a real time
tool”, Atti dell'84° Congresso Nazionale SIU, Roma, Italy, Oct.
2011.