Open Access
ARTICLE
A Joint Delay-and-Sum and Fourier Beamforming Method for High Frame Rate Ultrasound Imaging
Wei Zhao1, 2, Shuai Feng1, Yadan Wang1, Yuanguo Wang1, Zhihui Han1, Hu Peng1, *
1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China.
2 Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
* Corresponding Author: Hu Peng. Email: .
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Computer Methods in Bio-mechanics and Biomedical Engineering)
Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2020, 123(1), 427-440. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2020.09387
Received 09 December 2019; Accepted 26 December 2019; Issue published 01 April 2020
Abstract
Frame rate is an important metric for ultrasound imaging systems, and high
frame rates (HFR) benefit moving-target imaging. One common way to obtain HFR
imaging is to transmit a plane wave. Delay-and-sum (DAS) beamformer is a conventional
beamforming algorithm, which is simple and has been widely implemented in clinical
application. Fourier beamforming is an alternative method for HFR imaging and has high
levels of imaging efficiency, imaging speed, and good temporal dynamic characteristics.
Nevertheless, the resolution and contrast performance of HFR imaging based on DAS or
Fourier beamforming are insufficient due to the single plane wave transmission. To
address this problem, a joint DAS and Fourier beamforming method is introduced in this
study. The proposed method considers the different distributions of sidelobes in DAS
imaging and Fourier imaging and combines the angular spectrum and DAS to reconstruct
ultrasound images. The proposed method is evaluated on simulation and experimental
phantom datasets to compare its performance with DAS and Fourier beamforming
methods. Results demonstrate that the proposed method improves image effective
dynamic range and resolution while also retaining a high frame rate of the ultrasound
imaging systems. The proposed method improves the effective dynamic range along axial
and lateral directions by 10 dB, compared to standard DAS and Fourier beamforming.
Keywords
Cite This Article
Zhao, W., Feng, S., Wang, Y., Wang, Y., Han, Z. et al. (2020). A Joint Delay-and-Sum and Fourier Beamforming Method for High Frame Rate Ultrasound Imaging.
CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, 123(1), 427–440.