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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Blood Flow Imaging with Ultrafast Doppler
Published on: October 14, 2020
Barker-coded ultrasound color flow imaging: theoretical and practical design considerations
Heng Zhao1, Larry Y L Mo, Shangkai Gao
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. hengzhao00@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn
Summary
Barker-coded excitation enhances ultrasound color flow imaging (CFI) by improving sensitivity and resolution. This method uses advanced decoding filters for clearer imaging of blood flow, even at greater depths.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Ultrasound Technology
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Ultrasound color flow imaging (CFI) faces challenges in balancing sensitivity and resolution.
- Barker-coded excitation offers a potential solution to this tradeoff.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the application of Barker-coded excitation for improving ultrasound CFI.
- To develop and analyze direct sequence encoding and complex baseband decoding methods for Barker-coded CFI.
Main Methods:
- Proposed direct sequence encoding and complex baseband decoding techniques.
- Utilized a general Wiener decoding filter formulation to derive different filter sequences.
- Analyzed coding gain, integrated sidelobe level (ISL), and peak sidelobe level (PSL).
- Simulated linear array imaging of steady flow in straight tubes.
Main Results:
- Identified three conditions for Barker-chip duration and demodulation frequency leading to specific decoding filter sequences.
- Demonstrated that the inverse filter provides maximum range sidelobe suppression for decoding Barker-coded CFI signals.
- Simulations showed improved penetration and axial resolution in color flow images.
Conclusions:
- Barker-coded excitation significantly enhances the performance of ultrasound color flow imaging.
- The proposed decoding methods and inverse filter offer superior range sidelobe suppression.
- This technique leads to improved penetration and axial resolution, benefiting diagnostic capabilities.
