2D arrays device for calcaneus bone transmission: an alternative technological solution using crossed beam forming

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Ultrasound Technology

Background:

• Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is crucial for assessing bone health, particularly in spaceflight.
• Existing transmission imaging devices, like the BEAM scanner, are complex and costly.
• A simplified, crossed beam former offers a potentially more accessible alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of a novel, simplified crossed beam former with a conventional matrix transducer system for QUS.
• To evaluate the feasibility of cylindrical focusing for in vivo bone imaging.
• To assess and mitigate artifacts associated with the cylindrical focusing method.

Main Methods:

• Developed and implemented a crossed beam former utilizing perpendicular, cylindrically focused ultrasonic planes.
• Acquired in vivo ultrasound transmission data from 29 subjects using both crossed beam and matrix transducer systems.
• Processed acquired signals using both cylindrical and spherical focusing modes, applying apodization techniques to address artifacts.

Main Results:

• Cylindrical focusing initially produced significant artifacts due to increased side lobes.
• Apodization techniques effectively reduced these artifacts, yielding encouraging results.
• Reconstructed images and statistical data were obtained for both processing schemes, enabling direct comparison.

Conclusions:

• The simplified crossed beam former presents a viable, less complex alternative for QUS bone assessment.
• Further refinement using apodization techniques is necessary to optimize image quality for clinical and space applications.
• This approach holds potential for cost-effective, quantitative ultrasound imaging of skeletal sites.