TY - GEN

T1 - Preliminary in-vivo evaluation of synthetic aperture sequential beamformation using a multielement convex array

AU - Hemmsen, Martin Christian

AU - Møller Hansen, Peter

AU - Lange, Theis

AU - Hansen, Jens Munk

AU - Nikolov, Svetoslav Ivanov

AU - Nielsen, Michael Bachmann

AU - Jensen, Jørgen Arendt

PY - 2011/12/1

Y1 - 2011/12/1

N2 - This paper presents a preliminary in-vivo study of synthetic aperture sequential beamforming (SASB) in comparison with conventional imaging. The advantage of SASB compared to conventional imaging, is the ability to obtain a more range independent point spread function, without any loss in lateral resolution or frame rate. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether SASB imaging is feasible in-vivo and whether the image quality obtained is comparable with traditional scanned imaging in terms of penetration depth, spatial resolution, contrast, and unwanted artifacts. Acquisition was performed using a ProFocus ultrasound scanner and a 5 MHz convex array transducer. First stage beamformed SASB radio frequency (RF) data were acquired using a transmit and receive focal depth of 70 mm and 63-element sub-apertures. Subsequently the data were off-line processed to generate second stage SASB RF data. For conventional imaging, beamformed RF data was acquired using 63-element sub-apertures in transmit with a focal depth of 105 mm, in receive an expanding aperture using dynamic focusing with a F-number of 0.8 was used. Both modalities used the same standard manufacturer specified pulse. Conventional and SASB RF data were acquired interleaved, ensuring that the exact same anatomical location was scanned. RF data were recorded in real time and processed off-line to generate image sequences. Two male volunteers were scanned abdominally resulting in 34 image sequence pairs. Evaluation of image quality and penetration was performed by five medical doctors. Results showed no significantly (p = 0.98) increase nor decrease in penetration using SASB. Overall image quality was highly significantly (p < 0.001) increased. Results show that in-vivo ultrasound imaging using SASB is feasible for abdominal imaging without severe motion artifacts.

AB - This paper presents a preliminary in-vivo study of synthetic aperture sequential beamforming (SASB) in comparison with conventional imaging. The advantage of SASB compared to conventional imaging, is the ability to obtain a more range independent point spread function, without any loss in lateral resolution or frame rate. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether SASB imaging is feasible in-vivo and whether the image quality obtained is comparable with traditional scanned imaging in terms of penetration depth, spatial resolution, contrast, and unwanted artifacts. Acquisition was performed using a ProFocus ultrasound scanner and a 5 MHz convex array transducer. First stage beamformed SASB radio frequency (RF) data were acquired using a transmit and receive focal depth of 70 mm and 63-element sub-apertures. Subsequently the data were off-line processed to generate second stage SASB RF data. For conventional imaging, beamformed RF data was acquired using 63-element sub-apertures in transmit with a focal depth of 105 mm, in receive an expanding aperture using dynamic focusing with a F-number of 0.8 was used. Both modalities used the same standard manufacturer specified pulse. Conventional and SASB RF data were acquired interleaved, ensuring that the exact same anatomical location was scanned. RF data were recorded in real time and processed off-line to generate image sequences. Two male volunteers were scanned abdominally resulting in 34 image sequence pairs. Evaluation of image quality and penetration was performed by five medical doctors. Results showed no significantly (p = 0.98) increase nor decrease in penetration using SASB. Overall image quality was highly significantly (p < 0.001) increased. Results show that in-vivo ultrasound imaging using SASB is feasible for abdominal imaging without severe motion artifacts.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84869074597&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1109/ULTSYM.2011.0278

DO - 10.1109/ULTSYM.2011.0278

M3 - Article in proceedings

AN - SCOPUS:84869074597

SN - 9781457712531

T3 - IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS

SP - 1131

EP - 1134

BT - 2011 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2011

T2 - 2011 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium, IUS 2011

Y2 - 18 October 2011 through 21 October 2011

ER -