An Experimental Ultrasound Database for Tomographic Imaging

Abstract

In the framework of non-destructive testing and imaging, ultrasound tomography can have an important role in several applications, especially in the biomedical field. The motivation beyond the use of this imaging technique lies in the possibility of obtaining quantitative imaging which is also operator-independent, conversely to conventional approaches. Thus, the need for public data sets for testing inverse scattering approaches is always persisting. To this aim, this paper introduces an experimental multiple-input-multiple-output ultrasound tomographic database whose acquisitions were performed by an air-matched in-house system designed and built by the Authors. The proposed database provides several cases with single and multiple objects of different shapes, sizes, and materials, to be imaged in laboratory-controlled conditions. Therefore, these scenarios can represent interesting options for the preliminary testing of tomographic ultrasound imaging approaches.

An Experimental Ultrasound System for Qualitative Tomographic Imaging

“…In early prototypes, bi-static configurations were considered with a single pair of transmitter and receiver being adopted. Recently, UST systems present multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) configurations where several US transducers are considered [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Moreover, this approach might be also adopted in hybrid systems where UST is considered in combination with other approaches, among which microwave tomography seems very promising [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Special Issue on Ultrasound Technology in Industry and Medicine

“…In this issue, a total of thirteen valuable and interesting papers were published, investigating a range of novel and innovative methods, devices, and applications of ultrasound technology in industry and medicine. The papers will cover the following topics: medical diagnostics utilizing shear wave elastography (SWE) methods [1,2], photothermal and photoacoustic effects in materials [3]; shaping the frequency-response characteristics of ultrasonic transducers for use in various applications [4]; ultrasound tomography [5,6], underwater communication systems using the quadrature phase-shift keying method (QPSK) [7]; the ways in which to use standard B-mode ultrasound scanners in precise 3D imaging [8]; the use of the acoustic field beamforming (AFB) method in ultrasonic handheld scanners [9]; a system for locating and tracking objects in the air using ultrasonic detection technology [10]; the full-matrix ultrasonic non-destructive imaging of multilayer structures [11]; the Doppler ultrasound blood flow monitoring circuit system with a single element transducer [12], and the scanning of a dental implant using an intraoral high-frequency ultrasonic prototype device [13].…”

“…This approach is fundamentally distinct the existing methods used to match layer selection. Franceschini et al [5] complied with the expectation that public data sets must test inverse scattering-based approaches; they designed an experimental multiple-input-multiple-output ultrasound tomographic database whose acquisitions were performed by an air-matched internal system. The developed scenarios may provide interesting options for the initial testing of tomographic imaging approaches in non-destructive testing and medical imaging applications.…”