Robust and Accurate Ultrasound 3-D Imaging Algorithm Incorporating Adaptive Smoothing Techniques

• SAHO Kenshi

  Department of Communications and Computer Engineering, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University

• KIMURA Tomoki

  Medical Equipment Group, Canon

• KIDERA Shouhei

  Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, the University of Electro-Communications

• TAKI Hirofumi

  Department of Communications and Computer Engineering, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University

• SAKAMOTO Takuya

  Department of Communications and Computer Engineering, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University

• SATO Toru

  Department of Communications and Computer Engineering, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University

Abstract

Many researchers have proposed ultrasound imaging techniques for product inspection; however, most of these techniques are aimed at detecting the existence of flaws in products. The acquisition of an accurate three-dimensional image using ultrasound has the potential to be a useful product inspection tool. In this paper we apply the Envelope algorithm, which was originally proposed for accurate UWB (Ultra Wide-Band) radar imaging systems, to ultrasound imaging. We show that the Envelope algorithm results in image deterioration, because it is difficult for ultrasound measurements to achieve high signal to noise (S/N) ratio values as a result of a high level of noise and interference from the environment. To reduce errors, we propose two adaptive smoothing techniques that effectively stabilize the estimated image produced by the Envelope algorithm. An experimental study verifies that the proposed imaging algorithm has accurate 3-D imaging capability with a mean error of 6.1µm, where the transmit center frequency is 2.0MHz and the S/N ratio is 23dB. These results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed imaging algorithm compared with a conventional Envelope algorithm.

Journal

• IEICE Transactions on Communications

  IEICE Transactions on Communications E95-B (2), 572-580, 2012

  The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers

Keywords

• ultrasound 3-D imaging
• accurate imaging
• robust imaging
• adaptive smoothing

Details

• CRID: 1390001204375353216
• NII Article ID: 10030608515
• NII Book ID: AA10826261
• DOI: 10.1587/transcom.e95.b.572
• ISSN: 17451345
• ISSN: 09168516
• Web Site: http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/transcom/E95.B/2/E95.B_2_572/_pdf
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed