Lag-Based Filtered-Delay Multiply and Sum Beamformer Combined with Two Phase-Related Factors for Medical Ultrasound...

Area of Science:

• Signal Processing
• Medical Imaging
• Acoustics

Background:

• Adaptive beamforming algorithms like Delay and Sum (DAS) and Filtered-Delay Multiply and Sum (F-DMAS) are crucial for improving image resolution and contrast.
• Existing methods, while effective, may still exhibit limitations in certain aspects of image quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce novel adaptive beamforming techniques, LAG-DMAS-PF and LAG-DMAS-SCF, building upon the DMAS framework.
• To evaluate the performance of these new methods in terms of image resolution and contrast enhancement.
• To compare the proposed methods against established algorithms like DAS and F-DMAS.

Main Methods:

• Rearrangement of pair-wised signals in DMAS based on lag to synthesize new signals sorted by spatial coherence.
• Application of two phase-related weighting factors: polarity-based factor (PF) and sign coherence factor (SCF).
• Development of LAG-DMAS-PF and LAG-DMAS-SCF algorithms based on these weighting factors.

Main Results:

• Both LAG-DMAS-PF and LAG-DMAS-SCF demonstrate improvements in image resolution and contrast compared to F-DMAS and DAS.
• LAG-DMAS-SCF shows superior performance in overall image quality enhancement.
• LAG-DMAS-PF offers a better preservation of image details compared to LAG-DMAS-SCF.

Conclusions:

• The proposed LAG-DMAS-PF and LAG-DMAS-SCF methods offer significant advancements in adaptive beamforming.
• These techniques achieve enhanced resolution and contrast without substantial increases in computational complexity.
• The choice between LAG-DMAS-PF and LAG-DMAS-SCF depends on the specific application's requirements for performance versus detail preservation.