Evaluation of translating apertures based angular scatter imaging on a clinical imaging system

Traditional ultrasound systems measure backscatter in B-mode, capturing only the acoustic energy that is reflected directly from the target region to the transducer face. These systems fail to utilize the information in the echo field that is scattered in other directions and therefore cannot characterize the angular scattering behavior of the targets being observed. Since target-specific angular scattering has great potential as a source of increased contrast in biological tissues, it is desirable to modify the method of acquisition in order to obtain reliable information about this behavior. However, prior systems used to investigate this information have been clinically unwieldy and statistically inaccurate over small regions. We have implemented a method of acquisition that utilizes the translating apertures algorithm: (TAA) to reliably separate target-specific angular scatter information from the effects of changing acquisition geometry. This acquisition method has been implemented in real-time on a clinical linear array system. Seven interrogation angles are acquired for each imaging line, and the TAA is implemented repeatedly across the array to yield per-pixel maps of angular scatter behavior.