title: Biomedical ultrasound beam forming.
abstract: The principles of biomedical ultrasound beam forming control the quality of diagnostic imaging. Beam parameters associated with imaging quality are: (1) lateral and axial resolutions; (2) depth of field; (3) contrast and (4) frame rate. In this paper, we review some of the current beam forming techniques and their principles. We focus on trade-offs among the above four aspects of beam forming and relate them to system parameters such as aperture size, f-number (the ratio between focal length and aperture diameter), central frequency (wavelength), system bandwidth and sidelobes. Methods for steering conventional and limited diffraction beams with array transducers are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Greenleaf
mesh_terms: D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography