Real-time rectilinear 3-D ultrasound using receive mode multiplexing.
Published
Journal Article
In previous work, we developed two generations of a real-time rectilinear volumetric scanner operating at 5 MHz for abdominal, breast, or vascular imaging using a Mills cross two-dimensional (2-D) array and a rectilinear periodic 2-D array. To improve spatial resolution performance and sensitivity, we developed a new design using 4:1 receive mode multiplexing. With 4:1 multiplexing, the new 65,000 element 2-D array has 4 x 256 = 1024 receivers so that 256 receivers can be used on any image line. The two major benefits of using receive mode multiplexing are an increase in receive sensitivity due to a greater number of receive elements, and a decrease in grating lobe and clutter levels due to increased receive element density. Theoretical simulations and analysis show an increase of about 13 dB in sensitivity compared to our previous work. With these encouraging results, a new 65,000 element 5-MHz, 2-D array having 1024 receivers and 169 transmitters was prototyped. In addition, the multiplexer and control circuitry were designed, built, and interfaced with both the transducer and volumetric scanner. Images of tissue-mimicking phantoms and in vivo targets were obtained. Using a spherical cyst phantom, experimental results showed a +12 dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and a +6 dB improvement in contrast compared to our previous work.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Yen, JT; Smith, SW
Published Date
- February 2004
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 51 / 2
Start / End Page
- 216 - 226
PubMed ID
- 15055812
Pubmed Central ID
- 15055812
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1525-8955
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0885-3010
Language
- eng