Phase series echography with prior waveform distortion for evaluating posterior waveform distortion

Abstract

We describe a pulse-echo ultrasound method for measuring nonlinear waveform distortion. First, two artificially distorted ultrasound pulses, one of which is transformed into the other by using a linear transform, are prepared prior to the measurement. The linear relationship does not hold for nonlinear propagation. Second, different initial-phase versions of the two pulses are separately transmitted to a specimen one after another, then the echoes with the same turnaround time are placed in order of the initial phase. The placed echoes, called a phase series, have complete information on the posterior waveform distortion. We formulate a waveform distortion index by using these two techniques. The waveform distortion index has a monotonic increasing relationship with the nonlinear parameter B=A. As an example application, we performed tissue characterization of boiled eggs. As a result, egg whites and yolks were clearly distinguished. This method should be useful for biological tissue characterization.