Display pixel-based synthetic aperture focusing method for intravascular ultrasound imaging

An intravascular ultrasound image reconstruction technique that combines synthetic aperture focusing and display pixel-based focusing methods is presented. Although the synthetic aperture focusing method can improve intravascular ultrasound image quality, the final displayed images are usually blurry in the angular direction due to the limitations of the digital scan converter. The display pixel-based focusing method can eliminate blurring effects caused by the digital scan converter. Therefore, the image quality can be further improved by applying the display pixel-based focusing method to the synthetic aperture focusing method, especially for intravascular ultrasound images. The experimental studies were performed to evaluate display pixel-based synthetic aperture focusing method. The computational complexity of the display pixel-based synthetic aperture focusing method was discussed in comparison with that of the synthetic aperture focusing method.