P3A-7 Real-Time High-Resolution 3D Imaging Method Using 2D Phased Arrays Based on Sparse Synthetic Focusing Technique

A method for real-time 3D ultrasound imaging using 2D phased arrays has recently been proposed by the authors, which employs two-way dynamic focusing and conventional receive dynamic focusing in the transversal and longitudinal directions, respectively. This method can be used to improve volume rate by reducing the number of transmit-receive (T/R) events with sparse synthetic focusing technique in the transversal direction. In the presentation, it will be demonstrated that the frame rate (or volume rate) of this method can be increased without elevation of grating lobes by adopting sparse synthetic focusing technique in the transversal direction. Computer simulation results show that the proposed method can provide a high-resolution 3D image with peak grating lobe level smaller than -50dB up to steering angle of 40 degree along the transversal direction