Plane wave imaging combined with eigenspace-based minimum variance beamforming using a ring array in ultrasound...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Ultrasound Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) typically uses ring arrays for enhanced imaging.
• Current synthetic aperture (SA) emission methods result in lengthy scanning times.
• Echo images offer high resolution structural information in USCT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a faster USCT imaging method using plane wave (PW) emission.
• To reduce the considerable scanning time associated with traditional USCT methods.
• To maintain or improve image quality with reduced emissions.

Main Methods:

• Proposed a novel emitting and receiving process for PW imaging with a ring array.
• Implemented a reduced number of emission events for faster data acquisition.
• Combined PW imaging with an eigenspace-based minimum variance (ESBMV) beamformer.
• Validated the technique using Field II simulations and phantom experiments with a 512-element ring array.

Main Results:

• The proposed PW imaging method significantly reduces scanning time.
• ESBMV beamforming maintained or improved resolution and contrast under fewer emissions.
• Phantom experiments confirmed the effectiveness of the PW imaging approach.
• Higher emitting energy correlated with improved contrast ratio in imaging results.

Conclusions:

• PW imaging with ring arrays offers a substantial reduction in scanning time (up to 90% faster than SA).
• The method achieves comparable or superior echo imaging performance.
• USCT imaging can be accelerated without compromising image quality, enhancing clinical applicability.