Paired Angle Multiple Compounding

Abstract

Ultrasound compounding is a method of combining multiple images from different angles in order to create a single image with improved resolution and reduced angular-dependent artifactual detail. Compounding methods traditionally calculate each pixel in the compound image as a simple functional relationship between pixel elements in the component image set. In order to achieve an even better resolution and further reduce angular-dependent artifacts, this paper investigates a new type of compounding we call paired angle multiplicative compounding (PAMC), in which compound images are produced by a summation of multiplied pairs of component images acquired at different angles. A PAMC image of a breast phantom demonstrates improved delineation of microcalcifications in comparison to the mean operation. Images of the forearm are used to investigate larger angles of paired multiplication, the best improving contrast ratio (28%) and signal to noise ratio (24%) when compared to the mean method. The PAMC method is superior to other compounding operations, but at the expense of needing a larger angular range. This angular range is readily accessible for the peripheral musculoskeletal, making PAMC a powerful technique for non-radiative 3-D visualization of peripheral musculoskeleton. Additional techniques can then be used for functional imaging of peripheral musculoskeletal maladies.