A Model-Based Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique for High- Frequency Ultrasound Imaging

Abstract:
In this contribution a mono-static synthetic aperture focusing image reconstruction technique for high-frequency ultrasound imaging systems with fixed-focus single element transducers is suggested. It is based on the correlation of recorded echo signals with the simulated point spread function of the system. The simulation is based on the real transducer properties and takes the echo signal's phase and direction-dependent magnitude into account for reconstruction. The proposed concept has been evaluated by measurements with a 20 MHz ultrasound system on a wire phantom and with small animal imaging experiments. By synthetic aperture focusing the lateral resolution is improved and nearly constant over the whole depth range.