Ultrasound contrast agent harmonic imaging method based on frequency-modulated signal excitation

A nonlinear imaging technique that demodulated the second harmonic component of the response of the Ultrasound Contrast Agent (UCA) was proposed. The UCA perfusion imaging method has been investigated from three aspects, mathematics principle, simulation and ultrasound experiment, respectively. Frequency-Modulated (FM) signal excitation has been introduced to increase Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) in medical ultrasound imaging firstly. A theoretical simulation and an ultrasound experiment were performed to investigate if a cosine enveloped frequency-modulated signal excitation could be applied in UCA imaging to increase SNR and Contrast-to-Tissue Ratio (CTR). To obtain a good imaging, suitable parameters and a right envelope on the transmitted signal were needed, and a gap was also needed between the transmitted signal bandwidth and the decoded match filter bandwidth. A harmonic image was obtained with using of coded excitation and the decoded filter. The results suggested that using this harmonic imaging method, image could be got with good SNR and CTR. At the same time, the acoustical results were agreed with the theoretical results well.

Ultrasound contrast agent harmonic imaging method based on frequency-modulated signal excitation