Elevation performance of 1.25D and 1.5D transducer arrays

Present 1D phased array probes have outstanding lateral and axial resolution, but their elevation performance is determined by a fixed aperture focused at a fixed range. Multi-row array transducers can provide significantly improved elevation performance in return for "modest" increases in probe and system complexity. Time domain simulations of elevation beam profiles are used to compare several types of multi-row probes. The elevation aperture of a 1.25D probe increases with range, but the elevation focusing of that aperture is static and determined principally by a mechanical lens with a fixed focus (or foci). 1.25D probes can provide substantially better near- and far-field slice thickness performance than 1D probes and require no additional system beamformer channels. 1.5D, probes use additional beamformer channels to provide dynamic focusing and apodization in elevation. 1.5D probes can provide detail resolution comparable to, and contrast resolution substantially better than, 1.25D probes, particularly in the mid- and far-field. Further increases in system channel count allow the use of 1.75D and 2D arrays for adaptive acoustics and two-dimensional beam steering. Significant improvements in clinical image quality can be expected as multi-row probes become increasingly available in the marketplace.

[1]  Y. Doisy,et al.  A 128/spl times/4 channels 1.5D curved linear array for medical imaging , 1995, 1995 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium. Proceedings. An International Symposium.

[2]  G.E. Trahey,et al.  A comparative evaluation of several algorithms for phase aberration correction , 1994, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[3]  R. E. Davidsen,et al.  Two-Dimensional Random Arrays for Real Time Volumetric Imaging , 1994, Ultrasonic imaging.

[4]  Daniel H. Turnbull,et al.  Two-dimensional transducer arrays for medical ultrasound: beamforming and imaging (Invited Paper) , 1992, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[5]  S.W. Smith,et al.  Two-Dimensional Arrays for Medical Ultrasound , 1991, IEEE 1991 Ultrasonics Symposium,.

[6]  B. Piwakowski,et al.  Method for computing spatial pulse response: Time‐domain approach , 1989 .

[7]  Henryk Lasota,et al.  Acoustic diffraction analysis by the impulse response method: A line impulse response approach , 1984 .

[8]  Gerald R. Harris,et al.  Review of transient field theory for a baffled planar piston , 1981 .

[9]  Gerald R. Harris,et al.  Transient field of a baffled planar piston having an arbitrary vibration amplitude distribution , 1981 .

[10]  M. Pappalardo,et al.  Hybrid linear and matrix acoustic arrays , 1981 .

[11]  J. Meindl,et al.  Two-dimensional transmit/receive ceramic piezoelectric arrays: Construction and performance , 1978 .

[12]  J D Meindl,et al.  State-of-the-art in two-dimensional ultrasonic transducer array technology. , 1976, Medical physics.

[13]  C. Dorme,et al.  Ultrasonic beam steering through inhomogeneous layers with a time reversal mirror , 1996, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[14]  F.S. Foster,et al.  Optimizing the radiation pattern of sparse periodic two-dimensional arrays , 1996, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[15]  Pai-Chi Li,et al.  Optimizing the radiation pattern of sparse periodic linear arrays , 1996, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[16]  M. O'Donnell,et al.  Phase aberration correction on two-dimensional conformal arrays , 1995, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[17]  David Vilkomemn,et al.  Towards a Resolution Metric for Medical Ultrasonic Imaging , 1995 .

[18]  Thornson Sintra Asm,et al.  A 128x4 CHANNELS 1.5D CURVED LINEAR ARRAY FOR MEDICAL IMAGING , 1995 .

[19]  R. M. Schmitt,et al.  Optimization of random sparse 2-D transducer arrays for 3-D electronic beam steering and focusing , 1994, 1994 Proceedings of IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium.

[20]  B. S. Robinson,et al.  Synthetic focus imaging using partial datasets , 1994, 1994 Proceedings of IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium.

[21]  L. S. Smith,et al.  A 1.5D transducer for medical ultrasound , 1994, 1994 Proceedings of IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium.

[22]  M. O’Donnell,et al.  Phase-aberration correction using signals from point reflectors and diffuse scatterers: basic principles , 1988, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[23]  G. Kino.  Acoustic waves : devices, imaging, and analog signal processing , 1987 .

[24]  T. Kojima,et al.  Matrix Array Transducer and Flexible Matrix Arry Transducer , 1986, IEEE 1986 Ultrasonics Symposium.

[25]  Sayama-shi Saitama-ken,et al.  MATRIX ARRAY TRANSDUCER AND FLEXIBLE MATRIX ARRY TRANSDUCER , 1986 .

[26]  C. Maerfeld,et al.  Properties for a 2D Multiplexed Array for Acoustic Imaging , 1981 .