Shape Estimation Algorithm for Ultrasound Imaging by Flexible Array Transducer

A flexible ultrasonic array transducer able to be attached to the body has the potential to achieve long-term continuous unconstrained ultrasound (US) imaging. However, the quality of reconstructed US images is affected by the accuracy of the estimated array shape because the array shape is primitive for time-delay calculation in delay-and-sum beamforming. In this study, we propose an algorithm for estimating the array shape only from the backscattered US signal without using any external device. The proposed algorithm is based on the assumption that beam-summed images reconstructed using an array shape estimated at higher accuracy would have smaller entropy. The array shape is estimated by searching for the shape with minimal entropy, which was used as the index of the beam-summed image quality. Simulation experiments and phantom experiments were used to evaluate the proposed algorithm. In the simulation experiments, three different array shapes with 2.0 MHz, 20 elements, and 0.8-mm pitch transducers were estimated. In the phantom experiments, the array shapes of commercially available linear, convex, and concave transducers were estimated. The results showed that the proposed algorithm can estimate the correct array shape with an average element position error of less than one-eighth of the wavelength of the transmitted signals. These results indicate that the proposed algorithm can achieve sufficiently accurate shape estimation and has the potential to enable clear US imaging with flexible array transducers.