3D f-k migration beamformer for full matrix ultrasound imaging using row-column-addressed array

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Ultrasound Technology
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Row-column-addressed (RCA) arrays offer efficient 3D ultrasound imaging with fewer channels.
• Total focusing method (TFM) with full matrix capture (FMC) data provides high-resolution 3D ultrasound images.
• Conventional 3D ultrasound beamforming using TFM/FMC is computationally intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a 3D frequency-wavenumber (f-k) migration beamformer for RCA arrays using FMC data.
• To compare the computational cost and imaging performance of the f-k method against the delay-and-sum (DAS) algorithm.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 3D f-k migration beamformer for RCA arrays.
• Evaluation using point simulations, wire experiments, phantom studies, and in vivo validations.
• Comparison with the conventional DAS beamforming algorithm.

Main Results:

• The f-k method reduced computational complexity from O(MH^2N^2) to O(MH^2log2(MH^2)) and processing time by hundreds of times.
• Improved average lateral full width at half maximum (FWHM) by up to 20.0%.
• Enhanced contrast ratio (CR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), speckle signal-to-noise ratio (sSNR), and generalized contrast-to-noise ratio (gCNR) by up to 28.96% in phantom studies.

Conclusions:

• The proposed 3D f-k migration beamformer is computationally efficient for RCA arrays with FMC data.
• The f-k method significantly improves 3D ultrasound imaging quality and reduces processing time.
• This advancement holds promise for faster and higher-quality 3D ultrasound diagnostics.