The data acquisition rate in medical ultrasonic imaging devices is limited by the acoustic propagation velocity in the tissues. Typically in such machines the image lines are produced sequentially one line per transmitted pulse. A parallel processing scheme has been implemented which enables the data acquisition rate to increase by a factor of four through the simultaneous acquisition of four B-mode image lines from each individual broadened transmit pulse. The higher data rate can be used to increase the image frame rate, to produce independent images that can be averaged in the image frame to reduce noise, or to produce a conventional image at standard video frame rates while reducing patient exposure. Alternatively, the field of view can be increased over that of a normal scan without sacrificing frame rate. These advantages are achieved with little reduction in the measured resolution. The design and performance of this device are described. A sample in vivo image is included.

Date Published: 11 June 1985
PDF: 14 pages
Proc. SPIE 0535, Application of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XIII, (11 June 1985); doi: 10.1117/12.947262

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0535:
Application of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine XIII
Samuel J. Dwyer III; Roger H. Schneider, Editor(s)