Modified multi-element synthetic transmit aperture method for ultrasound imaging: A tissue phantom study

The paper presents the modified multi-element synthetic transmit aperture (MSTA) method for ultrasound imaging. It is based on coherent summation of RF echo signals with apodization weights taking into account the finite size of the transmit subaperture and of the receive element. The work presents extension of the previous study where the modified synthetic transmit aperture (STA) method was considered and verified [1]. In the case of MSTA algorithm the apodization weights were calculated for each imaging point and all combinations of the transmit subaperture and receive element using their angular directivity functions (ADFs). The ADFs were obtained from the exact solution of the corresponding mixed boundary-value problem for periodic baffle system modeling the transducer array. Performance of the developed method was tested using Field II simulated synthetic aperture data of point reflectors for 4 MHz 128-element transducer array with 0.3 mm pitch and 0.02 mm kerf to estimate the visualization depth and lateral resolution. Also experimentally determined data of the tissue-mimicking phantom (Dansk Fantom Service, model 571) obtained using 128 elements, 4 MHz, linear transducer array (model L14-5/38) and Ultrasonix SonixTOUCH Research platform were used for qualitative assessment of imaging contrast improvement. Comparison of the results obtained by the modified and conventional MSTA algorithms indicated 15 dB improvement of the noise reduction in the vicinity of transducer’s surface (1 mm depth), and concurrent increase in the visualization depth (86% augment of the scattered amplitude at the depth of 90 mm). However, this increase was achieved at the expense of minor degradation of the lateral resolution of approximately 8% at the depth of 50 mm and 5% at the depth of 90 mm.

► We present modified MSTA method for ultrasound medical imaging.
► Apodization weights are calculated using array element angular directivity function.
► Image quality is improved, particularly in the vicinity of the transducer’s surface.
► Modified MSTA method holds promise to be of clinical importance.