Explososcan: A parallel processing technique for high speed ultrasound imaging with linear phased arrays

Abstract

The data acquisition rate in medical ultrasonic imaging devices is limited by the acoustic propagation velocity in the tissues. Typically in such machines the image lines are produced sequentially one line per transmitted pulse. A parallel processing scheme has been implemented which enables the data acquisition rate to increase by a factor of four through the simultaneous acquisition of four B-mode image lines from each individual broadened transmit pulse. The higher data rate can be used to increase the image frame rate to produce independent images that can be averaged in the image frame to reduce noise, or to produce a conventional image at standard video frame rates while reducing patient exposure. Alternatively, the field of view can be increased over that of a normal scan without sacrificing frame rate. These advantages are achieved with little reduction in the measured resolution. The design and performance of this device are described. A sample in vivo image is included.

12B-6 Multi-Frequency Encoding for Rapid Color Flow and Quadroplex Imaging

“…Here a broadly focused transmit beam is emitted, and multiple receive beams are generated simultaneously by steering the beams in slightly different directions. While the parallel receive beamforming presented in [4] is limited to sample closely spaced lines within the transmitted beam, the proposed method provides a larger flexibility in where data is sampled, for instance enabling MFQ imaging. Ultimately, the two methods could be combined, introducing the possibility of making real-time CFMs of 3D volumes without ECG-gating.…”

“…Parallel receive beamforming has previously been proposed for decreasing the time spent on data acquisition for B-mode images [4] and for blood flow estimation [5]. Here a broadly focused transmit beam is emitted, and multiple receive beams are generated simultaneously by steering the beams in slightly different directions.…”

Filter-based coded-excitation system for high-speed ultrasonic imaging

“…The number of receive beams determines the number of image lines to be acquired simultaneously. A particular imaging system based on this approach was developed by von Ramm et al [26], [34], [35]. According to a recent report [34], their third-generation volumetric imaging system can create 16 parallel receive beams and scan a 65° × 65° pyramidal volume (with maximum imaging depth 15 cm) at the rate of 20 fps.…”

“…Basically, two approaches have been proposed and investigated for realizing parallel image line processing. One approach is to modify the beam former so that it creates a limited number of receive beams surrounding a main beam direction [22], [26], [31], [35]. The number of receive beams determines the number of image lines to be acquired simultaneously.…”

“…Recent progress in transducer fabrication and very-large-scale integration signal processing have motivated several research groups to pursue high-speed ultrasound pulse-echo imaging systems capable of parallel processing multiple image lines for real-time 3-D imaging applications [3], [18], [23], [24], [26], [31], [33], [35]. Basically, two approaches have been proposed and investigated for realizing parallel image line processing.…”