Low-cost, high-speed back-end processing system for high-frequency ultrasound B-mode imaging.
For real-time visualization of the mouse heart (6 to 13 beats per second), a back-end processing system involving high-speed signal processing functions to form and display images has been developed. This back-end system was designed with new signal processing algorithms to achieve a frame rate of more than 400 images per second. These algorithms were implemented in a simple and cost-effective manner with a single field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and software programs written in C++. The operating speed of the back-end system was investigated by recording the time required for transferring an image to a personal computer. Experimental results showed that the back-end system is capable of producing 433 images per second. To evaluate the imaging performance of the back-end system, a complete imaging system was built. This imaging system, which consisted of a recently reported high-speed mechanical sector scanner assembled with the back-end system, was tested by imaging a wire phantom, a pig eye (in vitro), and a mouse heart (in vivo). It was shown that this system is capable of providing high spatial resolution images with fast temporal resolution.
Chang
Jin Ho
JH
Sun
Lei
L
Yen
Jesse T
JT
Shung
K Kirk
KK
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005123:Eye / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D051379:Mice; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013552:Swine; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*