Ultrasonic array imaging using CDMA techniques

A new method for designing ultrasonic imaging systems is presented in this paper. The method is based on the use of transducer arrays whose elements transmit wideband signals generated by pseudo-random codes, similarly to code division multiple access (CDMA) systems in communications. The use of code sequences instead of pulses, which are typically used in conventional phased arrays, combined with transmit and receive beamforming for steering different codes at each direction, permits parallel acquisition of a large number of measurements corresponding to different directions. Significantly higher image acquisition rate as well as lateral and contrast resolution are thus obtained, while axial resolution remains close to that of phased arrays operating in pulse-echo mode. Time and frequency division techniques are also studied and a unified theoretical model is derived, which is validated by experimental results.