Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
7152337 Applied Acoustics 2018 6 Pages PDF
Abstract
An ultrasound wave reflected from two closely separated interfaces will suffer from phase-interference if the transit time difference is less than the propagating pulse length, thereby reducing axial resolution and image quality. The potential for pulse-echo ultrasound transit time spectroscopy (PE-UTTS) to identify signals otherwise indistinguishable due to phase-interference has recently been described. It is therefore hypothesised that PE-UTTS offers a means to improve axial resolution. In an experimental study of 1.0 mm incremental acrylic step-wedge samples immersed in water, PE-UTTS reliably identified all interfaces utilising a 1 MHz signal, whereas conventional A-scan analysis could not. Quantitative analysis was performed by calculating side-to-main lobe ratios; PE-UTTS analysis provided between 53.7% and 90.9% improvement over conventional A-scan analysis. PE-UTTS therefore offers the potential to improve ultrasound image axial resolution and fidelity, with particular benefit for scenarios where high tissue attenuation necessitates use of relatively low frequency transducers.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Engineering Mechanical Engineering
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