System identification approach to contrast imaging with single pulse emission

Fox, P. and Tranquart, F. (2006) System identification approach to contrast imaging with single pulse emission. Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 32 (5), P278. (doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2006.02.1276).

Abstract

Objectives: Contrast imaging methods such as pulse inversion exploit the difference in scattering responses between linear tissue and nonlinear contrast agents. Such methods emit two or more pulses separated either temporally or spatially, at the cost of either reduced frame rate or reduced spatial resolution as compared to the theoretical values possible from a single pulse emission. This article proposes a method for imaging contrast agents specifically using single pulse emission only.
Methods: A system identification approach is taken, first fitting a least squares linear transfer function model between emitted and received pulses, and then obtaining a set of predicted received pulse values based on the emitted pulse and the linear least squares model.
Results: In the case of the reflector being linear (tissue), the linear least squares model accurately predicts the received pulse and the pulse prediction error is insignificant. In the case of a nonlinear reflector (contrast agent), the linear model cannot accurately predict the received pulse and the pulse prediction error is significant.
Conclusions: These results are parallel to the insignificant and significant residual pulses obtained respectively in pulse inversion, but the method here requires only a single emission to obtain the discrimination. Results for typical contrast agent responses are given.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Download statistics