title: Assessing and improving acoustic radiation force image quality using a 1.5-D transducer design.
abstract: A 1.5-D transducer array was proposed to improve acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging signal-to-noise ratio (SNRARFI) and image contrast relative to a conventional 1-D array. To predict performance gains from the proposed 1.5-D transducer array, an analytical model for SNRARFI upper bound was derived. The analytical model and 1.5-D ARFI array were validated using a finite element modelbased numerical simulation framework. The analytical model demonstrated good agreement with numerical results (correlation coefficient = 0.995), and simulated lesion images yielded a significant (2.92 dB; p < 0.001) improvement in contrast-tonoise ratio when rendered using the 1.5-D ARFI array.
authors: Ali H
authors: AH
authors: Dhanaliwala
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Hossack
authors: F William
authors: FW
authors: Mauldin
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers