Understand the basic and advanced beamforming techniques used in ultrasound imaging.
Identify the common methods used in ultrasonic image formation.
Identify the cause of speckle and the techniques used to reduce its effects.
In diagnostic ultrasound imaging, the beamformer is a key preprocessing component in producing high quality images. Basic beamforming techniques alone are insufficient for producing diagnostic quality images, and thus rely on advanced techniques which improve system resolution and contrast. In addition, ultrasonic imaging suffers from a phenomenon called speckle, which gives ultrasound images their grainy appearance. Speckle obscures fine anatomical structures and can reduce the perceived resolution by up to 10 times the actual resolution. In this chapter, basic and advanced beamforming techniqes necessary for the production of high quality ultrasound images is presented. An introduction to methods used for the reduction of speckle is also presented.
Dahl, J,
Ultrasound Beam Forming and Image Formation. Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4405283.html
