Fast Imaging Combined with Joint-Transmitting-Receiving Beamforming Based on a Ring Array in Ultrasound Computed Tomography
Fast Imaging Combined with Joint-Transmitting-Receiving Beamforming Based on a Ring Array in Ultrasound Computed Tomography
复制标题
超声计算机断层扫描中基于环形阵列的联合发射接收波束形成的快速成像
DOI：
10.1166/jmihi.2018.2461
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发表时间：
2018-09
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Hairong Zheng
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Xinming Jiang;Yang Xiao;Yuanyuan Wang;Wei Guo;Jinhua Yu;Hairong Zheng
结合超声和计算机断层扫描技术的优势，超声计算机断层扫描具有提供精确诊断的潜力。然而，使用传统的合成孔径（SA）发射方法在所有方向上获取信号需要很长时间。由于使用反射声波的回波图像比使用透射波的回波图像具有更高的分辨率，例如声速或组织的衰减，因此我们专注于减少回波图像的扫描时间。受平面波线阵的启发，提出了一种新型的环形阵发射方法，以减少回波信号的采集时间。在该方法中，所有元件都用于发射具有不同时间延迟的超声脉冲。波前形成同心圆，在不同的发射过程中聚焦在不同的位置。我们结合发射方法与联合发射接收（JTR）波束形成，这是最初用于平面波成像，以保持良好的分辨率在回波图像。我们在计算机模拟和真实的体模模型中验证了我们的方法。真实的体模实验采用直径为198 mm的512个元件的环形阵列进行。环形阵列由两个Verasonics® Vantage 256系统同时驱动。环形阵列的扫描时间仅为常规SA方法的1/5，成像结果与常规SA方法相似。与JTR波束形成方法相结合，所提出的发射方法，可以减少扫描时间，同时保持图像分辨率高。
Combining the advantage of both ultrasound and computed tomography technology, ultrasound computed tomography has the potential for providing a precise diagnosis. However, it takes a long time to acquire the signal in all directions using the conventional synthetic aperture (SA) emission method. As echo images using the reflection sound wave have a higher resolution than those use the transmission wave, such as sound speed or attenuation of tissue, we focused on decreasing the scanning time of echo images. Inspired by the plane wave with a linear array, we propose a novel emission method with a ring array to decrease the time it takes to acquire the echo signal. In this method, all elements are used to emit an ultrasound pulse with different time delays. The wave front forms a concentric circle and focuses at different positions in different emission processes. We combined the emission method with joint-transmitting-receiving (JTR) beamforming, which was originally used in plane wave imaging, to maintain a good resolution in echo images. We validated our method in both the computer simulation and real phantom model. The real phantom experiment was conducted with a ring array of 512 elements and diameter of 198 mm. The ring array was driven by two Verasonics® Vantage 256 systems simultaneously. The scanning time of the ring array was as low as one-fifth of that of conventional SA method, with a similar imaging result. With the proposed emission method combined with the JTR beamforming method, the scanning time can be reduced while the image resolution remains high.