Superb Micro-vascular Imaging (SMI)
Seeing the unseen
SMI is a technology that expands the range of visible blood flow and provides visualisation of low microvascular flow never seen before with ultrasound. By enabling detailed visualisation of vascular flow signals, SMI supports users during their clinical decision-making processes, reducing the routine use of invasive methods.
The advantages of SMI
- High frame rates
- High resolution
- High sensitivity
- Less motion artifacts
Technology
Traditional colour Doppler imaging removes clutter from the images by suppressing low velocity components, resulting in a loss of flow in tiny vessels.
SMI is a powerful and intelligent algorithm that effectively separates flow signals from overlaying tissue motion artifacts, while preserving even the subtle low-flow components with detail and definition.
SMI analyses clutter motion and uses an adaptive algorithm to identify and remove tissue motion and reveal true blood flow. This results in a high-resolution ultrasound image in which minute flow signals and low velocity flow can be depicted.
SMI is a powerful and intelligent algorithm that effectively separates flow signals from overlaying tissue motion artifacts, while preserving even the subtle low-flow components with detail and definition.
SMI analyses clutter motion and uses an adaptive algorithm to identify and remove tissue motion and reveal true blood flow. This results in a high-resolution ultrasound image in which minute flow signals and low velocity flow can be depicted.
Three modes of SMI
Monochrome mode (mSMI) reveals the fine blood flow patterns with high sensitivity by removing anatomical background information.
Colour-coded SMI (cSMI) demonstrates flow and grayscale information with high temporal and spatial resolution simultaneously.
Smart 3D with SMI provides a well-defined rendered image of the blood flow network within the liver.
Evolution of SMI
SMI is an innovative ultrasound technology introduced in 2014.
In 2017, “iSMI” was introduced, allowing simultaneous processing of multiple signals to maintain both noise reduction and high frame rates, even when the ROI is expanded. In 2021, the technology evolved into “SMI Generation 4,” which extended the flow velocity range from low to high speed flows. This advancement enabled high velocity motion artifacts to be reduced and expanded the application of SMI to include the visualisation of high velocity blood flow.
In 2025, SMI achieved further progress in visualising low-velocity blood flow, marking a new stage in its development and expanding its clinical potential.
In 2017, “iSMI” was introduced, allowing simultaneous processing of multiple signals to maintain both noise reduction and high frame rates, even when the ROI is expanded. In 2021, the technology evolved into “SMI Generation 4,” which extended the flow velocity range from low to high speed flows. This advancement enabled high velocity motion artifacts to be reduced and expanded the application of SMI to include the visualisation of high velocity blood flow.
In 2025, SMI achieved further progress in visualising low-velocity blood flow, marking a new stage in its development and expanding its clinical potential.
SMI Angio mode
Seeing the unseen – in finer detail
Building on SMI, Aplio’s new SMI Angio mode delivers superior blood flow visualisation, offering finer detail and enhanced separation of flow in small, closely adjacent vessels, supporting more assessment diagnostic confidence in a wide range of use cases.
Conventional SMI
SMI Angio mode
Technology
SMI Angio mode further improves blood flow visibility compared with conventional SMI.
As a result, adjacent blood flows can be clearly separated, enhancing the visualisation of fine vessels.
In addition, a newly applied statistical method for blood flow signal processing, together with an increased number of analysis frames, further improves sensitivity.
As a result, adjacent blood flows can be clearly separated, enhancing the visualisation of fine vessels.
In addition, a newly applied statistical method for blood flow signal processing, together with an increased number of analysis frames, further improves sensitivity.
Features
1. Enhanced visualisation of blood flow
SMI Angio mode improves the visualisation of blood flow in small vessels by providing finer separation of individual small vessels.
SMI Angio mode improves the visualisation of blood flow in small vessels by providing finer separation of individual small vessels.
2. Increased blood flow sensitivity
By incorporating statistical analysis across frame transitions and adjusting observation timing, SMI Angio mode enhances the signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in improved sensitivity to blood flow.
By incorporating statistical analysis across frame transitions and adjusting observation timing, SMI Angio mode enhances the signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in improved sensitivity to blood flow.
3. Preservation of core SMI capabilities
SMI Angio mode is built on the core capabilities of SMI, such as the ability to detect low velocity blood flow while maintaining high frame rates and without the need of contrast agent. Users can adjust both the real-time focusing mode and the sensitivity focusing mode.
SMI Angio mode is built on the core capabilities of SMI, such as the ability to detect low velocity blood flow while maintaining high frame rates and without the need of contrast agent. Users can adjust both the real-time focusing mode and the sensitivity focusing mode.
Clinical Images
SMI proves to be useful in many clinical applications and anatomical regions.
SMI
High Doppler sensitivity and resolution with well-seen flow perfusion in the kidney.
Simultaneous visualisation of B-mode, contrast image, SMI, and blend mode.
Clear depiction of the increased flow in the region of interest within the thyroid lobe.
Easy to define filling of the vessel lumen using SMI at the carotid bifurcation.
SMI Angio mode
Using Smart 3D with SMI Angio mode, the blood flow throughout the complex renal vascular branching can be visualised.
Notable Awards
2015 The Japanese Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine
The 15th technology awards for Superb Micro-vascular Imaging (SMI)
2024 The Japanese Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine
The 24th technology awards for SMI Generation 4 (SMI Gen4)
The 15th technology awards for Superb Micro-vascular Imaging (SMI)
2024 The Japanese Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine
The 24th technology awards for SMI Generation 4 (SMI Gen4)
White Paper
Interview report and Case study
Our Product
Canon product range is designed to meet the daily demands from small, mobile clinic machines to university hospital systems with research needs. In this section you can review each individual product and see the technology that makes a difference, every day.
Seeking more information? We can help.
Due to medical device regulatory reasons, not all products/service displayed on this Canon Medical Systems ANZ webpage are available in all countries, regions or markets. Future availability of the products/service cannot also be guaranteed. Please contact your local Canon Medical Systems representative for further details.
