合成孔径聚焦超声成像(三)

在合成孔径超声成像中,用小孔径基元换能器发射声波,并继而采集被目标或缺陷散射产生的回波信号．数据采集完成后,通过处理才能得到高分辨的重建声图．对种种不同的合成孔径成像技术而言,成像过程都可以分为两步：1．数据采集和存储;2．图像重建．在第一步中由基元换能器完成的电一声、声一电信号转换功能,及由后续电路完成的信号量化、采集功能,对各种不同的合成孔径成像技术而言,在原理上是没有多少不同的．各种不同的成像系统间的差别,主要在于所应用的图像重建原理及算法．在第一讲及第二讲中,我们分别介绍了基于等效线阵及匹…     

基于合成孔径技术的内镜超声相控阵成像算法

利用孔径大小为2.32mm的16阵元换能器,搭建了一套16通道的内镜超声相控阵成像实验系统。在此基础上提出了一种适用于内镜成像的相控阵成像算法(PAI),该算法利用延时和叠加算法(DAS)取得扫描线数据,再利用合成孔径技术中的相干样点叠加,得到高分辨率图像。该相控阵成像算法实现了发射和接收的动态聚焦。经FieldII仿真和内镜探头超声成像实验验证,与延时和叠加算法以及动态接收聚焦算法(DRF)相比,图像的理论横向分辨率分别提高了93.68%和17.5%,实验获得的实际横向分辨率分别提高了92.78%和14.69%,验证了相控阵成像算法和实验系统的可行性。     

渐进式频率-波数域全聚焦超声成像

为了提高全聚焦超声成像的质量和速度,提出了渐进式频率波数域全聚焦超声成像方法（GTFM-FW）。首先通过逐次激励超声相控阵各阵元并全孔径采集回波,得到全矩阵数据;然后通过傅里叶变换将全矩阵数据中的一组或多组对角线数据变换到频率波数域,对各组对角线数据的变换结果进行对齐并叠加;最后利用Stolt变换和二维逆傅里叶变换得到全聚焦成像结果。为了验证算法的有效性,对仿真点目标以及试块进行了详细成像实验。结果表明:本文方法可以通过改变全矩阵数据的使用量来实现成像分辨率与旁瓣干扰间的折中。并且由于采用频率波数域处理,在成像分辨率优于传统全聚焦成像算法的情况下,运算量大大降低。     

基于合成孔径聚焦技术的混凝土断面二维成像方法研究

针对提高混凝土结构超声无损检测分辨率的需要,提出了两种处理方法。在对低频B扫描数据进行合成孔径聚焦处理时,由于低频探测信号时间宽度大,波包会被拉伸,发生波包变形现象,为此,引入波包分解技术来解决这个问题。波包分解技术实质是用一些模型参数去描述检测信号,可以避免对回波信号所有采样点进行处理,不仅解决了波包变形问题,而且可以简化计算。对于实验中商用超声传感器引起的余振问题,提出一种数字滤波的补偿方法,通过水浸方式采集数据建立传感器系统补偿模型,用于实际检测信号中振铃的抑制,可提高成像的时空分辨率。数值仿真和实验结果证明,采用这两种方法后内嵌目标定位理准确,成像分辨率明显提高。     

医学超声中的合成孔径方法

血管内超声成像为心血管疾病诊断和治疗提供了一种新方法。由于人体内血管直径有限,阵元和体外控制单元间连线数目要受到限制,用传统相位阵成像方法得到的图像,质量不能令人满意。因此血管内超声成像采用了合成孔径聚焦方法(SAFT),并引入了最优滤波器,加入最优滤波器后图像分辨率得到了进一步提高,并能有效地抑制回波旁瓣.
本文对合成孔径聚焦方法和最优滤波器设计进行了讨论.     

基于空间广义相干系数加权的医学合成孔径超声成像

为解决广义相干系数用于合成孔径成像中所存在的运算量大,图像对比度改善有限等问题,提出空间广义相干系数加权成像方法。该算法根据单个孔径成像结果之间的相干性来计算相干系数,通过加权空间合成进行成像。采用对FieldⅡ仿真点目标和吸声斑目标的数据进行成像表明,算法不仅使运算量减少N(N为阵元数)倍,而且相对于传统的广义相干系数算法,算法对散射点成像可提高信噪比7 dB,对于吸声斑成像可提高对比度3.2 dB。可见算法可以有效地提高成像速度和成像质量。     

合成孔径聚焦声成像时域算法研究

本文介绍了宽带合成孔径聚焦声成像时域重建算法设计,及在486微机上的仿真计算结果;计算参数是按实际实验系统设计选取的。     

多传感器数字超声成像方法研究

论文介绍了Multi-SAFT超声成像原理,利用Multi-SAFT算法。对试块成像,得到了具有较高分辨率和拟合度的图像。     

Image-based sizing of surface-breaking cracks by SH-wave array ultrasonic testing

This paper presents calibration-free crack sizing techniques based on ultrasonic imaging. The techniques are intended for 2D (line) surface-breaking cracks with the size of the incident wavelength or greater. The probing wave mode is the anti-plane shear wave (SH-wave). Two methods are employed for the ultrasonic imaging. One is a synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) and the other is a computed time-reversal focusing technique (TRFT). In this paper, those methods are modified so that crack tips are located directly from measured A-scope waveforms without any calibration experiments. The results are shown as a peak in the ultrasonic image created by the respective methods. Reasonable accuracies of the proposed techniques are demonstrated first for the sizing of slits with known depths. The techniques are applied thereafter to the sizing of fatigue cracks. Since fatigue cracks may not be open without an external load, ultrasonic measurements are taken with and without external loads. The results of the imaging show that the depths of open cracks can be estimated accurately. It is also shown that crack opening (closing) behavior can be deduced by observing appearance (disappearance) of the peak in the images indicating the crack tip.     

光学稀疏孔径系统的成像及其评价方法

对典型阵列结构的光学稀疏孔径系统成像特性进行了数值仿真分析,并采用基于光学实验测量的调制传递函数（MTF）完成了光学稀疏孔径系统成像实验的图像复原处理.针对复杂目标成像,为了评价光学稀疏孔径系统最终成像的整体质量,不仅考虑系统的调制传递函数指标,还提出了一种基于相关系数的成像质量客观评价方法.数值仿真结果和光学实验结果均表明,基于相关系数的成像质量客观评价方法是可行的,实验说明光学稀疏孔径系统成像质量可以达到其等效单个大孔径成像系统的成像效果.     

Transverse and longitudinal resolution of the synthetic aperture focusing technique

This paper derives expressions that determine both the transverse and longitudinal resolution of the SAFT process whilst taking into account the pulsed nature of the ultrasound used in the process. Some experimental results supporting the theoretical results are also presented.     

Analysis and design considerations for a real-time system for non-destructive evaluation in the nuclear industry

This paper studies the feasibility of implementing a real-time system for non-destructive evaluation of nuclear reactors based on the principles of synthetic aperture processing. A detailed analysis of the computational requirements and simulation and benchmarking work on several computers seems to suggest the design of a special purpose processor as the most viable solution to the problem. The paper concludes with a discussion of the parameters affecting field design and some preliminary design considerations of the overall system.     

Performance of laser-ultrasonic F-SAFT imaging

The resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of laser-ultrasonics to detect small and buried defects can be greatly enhanced by using the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT). Originally developed in the time domain, SAFT can also be implemented in the frequency domain (F-SAFT) using the angular spectrum approach for a significant reduction in processing time. In this paper, an F-SAFT based data processing method especially adapted to laser-ultrasonic data is presented. This method allows for further significant improvements towards laser-ultrasonic imaging of small defects. It includes temporal deconvolution of the waveform data, control for an optimal aperture and frequency bandwidth as well as spatial interpolation of the subsurface images. All the above operations are well adapted to the frequency domain calculations and embedded in the F-SAFT data processing. Also, the aperture control and spatial interpolation allow a reduction of sampling requirements to further decrease both inspection and processing times. The above improvements are illustrated using laser-ultrasonic data taken from an aluminum sample with flat-bottom holes.     

光学稀疏孔径成像系统复合阵列设计的仿真研究

在典型环形、典型Golay-6型和典型Y型阵列结构的基础上,研究了两种不同的复合孔径阵列构造方式.利用仿真实验对系统进行模拟成像及图像重构,并运用相关系数对成像结果进行评价.结果表明:对不同类型的复合孔径阵列,构造方式对成像质量的影响是不同的,并不具有一致规律;应针对主阵列结构的特征去选择其子阵列的构造方式,做到阵列优化.     

Modified synthetic transmit aperture algorithm for ultrasound imaging

The modified synthetic transmit aperture (STA) algorithm is described. The primary goal of this work was to assess the possibility to improve the image quality achievable using synthetic aperture (SA) approach and to evaluate the performance and the clinical applicability of the modified algorithm using phantoms. The modified algorithm is based on the coherent summation of back-scattered RF echo signals with weights calculated for each point in the image and for all possible combinations of the transmit-receive pairs. The weights are calculated using the angular directivity functions of the transmit-receive elements, which are approximated by a far-field radiation pattern of a narrow strip transducer element vibrating with uniform pressure amplitude over its width. In this way, the algorithm takes into account the finite aperture of each individual element in the imaging transducer array. The performance of the approach developed was tested using FIELD II simulated synthetic aperture data of the point reflectors, which allowed the visualization (penetration) depth and lateral resolution to be estimated. Also, both simulated and measured data of cyst phantom were used for qualitative assessment of the imaging contrast improvement. The experimental data were obtained using 128 elements, 4 MHz, linear transducer array of the Ultrasonix research platform. The comparison of the results obtained using the modified and conventional (unweighted) STA algorithms revealed that the modified STA exhibited an increase in the penetration depth accompanied by a minor, yet discernible upon the closer examination, degradation in lateral resolution, mainly in the proximity of the transducer aperture. Overall, however, a considerable (12 dB) improvement in the image quality, particularly in the immediate vicinity of the transducer’s surface was demonstrated. The modified STA method holds promise to be of clinical importance, especially in the applications where the quality of the “near-field” image, that is the image in the immediate vicinity of the scanhead is of critical importance such as for instance in skin- and breast-examinations.     

红外成像检测中一种新型噪声抑制方法的理论模拟

根据线性微分方程的特点及两个合理的近似,提出了一种新的用计算机辅助去除红外成像检测中高功率噪声的方法,仿真结果表明方法有良好的抑制噪声效果。