Ultrasound Beamformation and Image Reconstruction

AAPM 2009 Conference

G. Wayne Moore, B.Sc., MA, FASE

What we will cover

Historical Perspective of Ultrasound Technology Ultrasound and Tissue Water Partition of Ultrasonic Imaging Events Image Quality Advances Ultrasound System Architecture Changes Beamformation Analysis and Test Device Modern Approaches to Solving Old Imaging Problems Newer Approaches to Image Reconstruction 2D Matrix Arrays Test Fixture and 3D Volumetric Image Reconstruction Analysis Whats Coming in the Future for Ultrasound

We Water ! Were Just Bags of Water

Ultrasound and Tissue Water

An archetypal person has about 40 L of body fluid 25 L are inside 75 trillion cells 15 L are outside the cells (interstitial spaces) 5 L in blood volume 2 L of RBCs 3 L of plasma

Still the law!

1540m/sec 6.5Bsec/cm

Partition of Ultrasonic Imaging Events

The scanhead or Transducer
History of Modern Diagnostic Ultrasound

Transmit signal out Echo signal return Specialized Signal Processing

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TissueTissueultrasound Mass Storage: VCR CD 5 PACS LAN

Gray Scale Image Processing

Doppler Image Processing

In

co mp lex

t
ity

Color/Gray scale display

A-Mode M-Mode B-Scan Mechanically Steered Real-time Linear Array Real-time Zero-crossing Doppler Spectral Doppler (FFT) Phased Array Real-time CW Doppler in Probe Bernoulli Equation Color Flow Doppler Triplex modes of Operation Pseudo-Color Color Angio & Power Doppler Harmonic Imaging & Variants Contrast Media Imaging Spatial Compounding 3D Imaging Volumetric 4D Imaging Steered Curved Array Phase Aberration Correction

1979 2009

3D Volumetric cardiac image derived from 2D Matrix Array with 2,500 elements pseudo Color display identifies proximal and distal echoes
Some 3D Clinical Advantages: Advantages No geometric assumptions No mental interpolations (cognitive reconstruction) Provides pre-surgical perspective Provides post-surgical perspective

1985

1997

Pyramidal volume of ultrasonic data

Evolution of Ultrasound System Architecture

Single Platform

Proprietary Hardware Centric Design

Proprietary Software Centric Design

Microsoft XP Embedded Software Platform Specialized Front End Generalized Back End

Change of System Technologies Since 1990

Proprietary Hardware Centric Hybrid Centric Proprietary Software Centric Software + Generalized Backend Centric

TGC Application

PA PA PA PA PA

ADC ADC ADC ADC ADC ADC ADC ADC

Dynamic Time Delays

The digital beamformer function has historically resided in the main console of the ultrasound system

PA

ADC

Shift from analog to digital beamformers

PA PA PA

128 Element Transducer

PA = Pre amplifier ADC = Analog to digital converter

10 bits 36 MHz 1024 Values 60 dB Dynamic Range

Digital beamforming 2009

Higher element counts were once restricted by the need to have a single wire in the probe cable for each element in the array. Multiplexing the elements allowed for transducers with higher element counts and a lower number of transmit channels in the beamformer. Current 2D matrix arrays with element counts of 2,500 necessitated a different approach to beamforming, and where the beamforming, or at least parts of it would take place.

High speed serial interface that provides control signals for the sub-beamformer e.g., defining delays for each unique element

x
Sub-beamforming performed in the probe

x(f)

100 Channels feeding & receiving 2,500 elements

(f)

x(f)

Would be normally what a standard front end would expect to see

Time sampling is digital, all else is analog

Beamformation Analysis

TextText -fixture and setset-up

Commercially available ultrasound probe and system testing device using a single crystal to both receive signals from the probe and transmit signals into the system via the probe.

Green LED

Red LED

Test Device Block Diagram

Power On Timer 200 mSec ON OFF

Fundamental Imaging sample rate gaps in phased array sector display

Threshold timer 10 mSec Amplifier Comparator Transducer + Threshold Level Target 3-5 cm 5-7 cm 7-9 cm Generator 10 MHz 5 MHz 2.5 MHz

Target Transmitter

10MHz 3-5cm

5MHz 5-7cm

2.5MHz 7-9cm

26sec = 2cm

26sec = 2cm

26sec = 2cm

2nd Harmonic Imaging

Harmonic Image Fundamental Image

An example of expanding aperture focusing used to maintain spatial resolution throughout depth of field
Active aperture changes as a function of depth

Old imaging problems, new imaging approaches

Transducer

Scanning Field
Shadowing Object

Shadow

Still the law!

1540m/sec 6.5Bsec/cm

Objects that are very reflective or very attenuating remove ultrasound from the image area behind the mass producing shadows. These events mark a specific interaction between ultrasound and tissues, and a property of the shadowing tissues.

Shadowing in Propagation Events

Transducer

Probe
Circular or cystic structures can produce refraction at the edge of the structure, bending the beam into the object, producing shadows extending from the edge of the object. This happens with a change in propagation velocity, but does not happen if there are no velocity changes.

Scanning Field
Refractive Surface

Breast Lesion Normal Scan Lines SonoCT Scan Lines Spatial Compounding

Refractive Shadow

Ultrasound Refraction at the Edge of a Circular Object

Spatial Compounding Using Multiple Apertures and Angles

Limited Fields of View

SieScape by Siemens
Slice Motion

With a structure identifying algorithm, the system locates and positions major structures, calculating the structure location in the continuous slicing scan of the transducer. This technique is equivalent to compound B-scanning without a scanning arm.

Complex Beamforming in 4D Systems

20 Degree Angle

Text-fixture and setText set-up for 4D Image Formation Analysis Using a Philips iE33 Ultrasound System and X7X7-2t probe
In order to create real-time 4D ultrasound images (i.e., three spatial dimensions plus motion), volume datasets must be acquired, processed and displayed at a rate higher than the capacity of the human eye to retain a visual impression

60 Degree Angle

Bench SetSet-up
Nickel (PVDF) Tektronix Scope RF Power Amplifier Probe/Nickel Fixture

2D Matrix Array 2,500 elements

Frame rate paces random access to the array

TEE/Nickel Interface Position/Pressure Control Mechanism

3 2 3 2 1 2 3
X7-2t 5x5 element sub-aperture Philips X7-2t probe 2500 elements 100 channels

Inside the X7X7-2t

Array Carrier

Potted Passive Components

X7-2t Inside the X7

Flex to Array Interface Flex Circuit Backing Material

CCD
Gold Foil I/O connection for Integrated Circuit

Tip Collar

Coax to Flex Circuit Interface

Transducer Array

NonNon-insulated Bm thick bonding wires*

System Interface

Input signal from Nickel 4Bsec burst @ 5MHz

* common mode rejection ratio

Battery powered Diff PrePre-amplifier good high freq detection and CMRR*

Detecting xmit, generates target, gets amplified by the RF amp

Ultrasound system pulse

Noise feed through from RF amp Noise + Acoustic

Nickel pulse

Acoustic signal only Receive out of ultrasound system

Nickel transmit pulse matches every other system transmit creating one line gaps in sector display shown above

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3D image rotated Nickel transmit pulse displayed across all slices

sector switching

3D image Nickel transmit pulse displayed

Ni Sys

Ni Sys

Signal In Front

Mixed mode (Color Flow Doppler and Imaging) Reduced frame rate approximately matches every Nickel pulse thereby filling in each sector line

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Signal In Middle

Signal In Back

So What is Coming Next?

Major innovation in ultrasound will slow, but

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ultrasound still must remain competitive with other so advanced imaging modalities such as MR, so
(1) 2D Matrix Arrays will be developed for broader clinical application (2) Design and optimization of capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducers silicon substrates may not be the avenue (3) Extended sub-beamformer + CMUTs

For example, extensions of ultrasound applications based on clinical need and cost effectiveness

Standard Imaging System Connector

Standard Ultrasound Cable

1. Wrist-Mounted Connector

2. Flat Flex Cable

3. Small-profile, finger-mounted array

END PRESENTATION Thank You

Nobility of Soul Never Kept a Business in the Black

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