Short-lag spatial coherence imaging

Conventional ultrasound images are formed by delay-and-sum beamforming of the backscattered echoes received by the transducer aperture. Although the delay-and-sum beamformer is well suited for ultrasound image formation, it is challenged under non-ideal circumstances, such as the presence of acoustic clutter and phase aberration. We propose an alternative method of imaging utilizing the short-lag spatial coherence of the backscattered echoes. Compared to matched B-mode images, short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) images demonstrate superior SNR and CNR in simulated speckle-generating phantom targets. Similar results are achieved in matched experimental B-mode and SLSC images of a speckle-generating phantom target, a human thyroid, and a sheep heart.