1281: Zone sonography and compact ultrasound system technologies

Abstract

Imaging systems that have utilized advances in semiconductor technology for miniaturization have become more prevalent as the current system of choice for compact imaging. These devices have the advantage that they are able to maintain the learning of their big brother predecessor. Some of the disadvantages are that in order to miniaturize these devices, compromises are required in the overall complexity of the device. Some of these compromises have been lower channel count, decreased complexity of the beamformer and limited imaging modalities. As time advances, the overall clinical performance differences between these systems and their cart-based predecessors most likely shall narrow, but never exceed. Zon-based imaging systems have taken a different approach to the methods of image formation and, as such, have potentially broken the mold that has confined some of the performance limitations of the more traditional beamformer-based devices. These systems have the advantage of high image acquisition rates, extremely flexible image formation architecture, low cost of ownership and potential to exceed the clinical performance of traditional systems. Some of the disadvantages of these devices are that they require a high amount of signal processing capabilities and are currently in the infancy of performance capabilities. In this presentation, the basic architectures of each of these types of devices shall be analyzed, and the physical advantages and limitations will be communicated in detail. Several concrete image performance examples shall be presented of the various imaging architectures that convey and expand upon the underlying physics so that the differences of each architecture can be appreciated in a clinical manner. This presentation will also present some of the methods different groups have used to minimize their architectural disadvantages and improve their overall performance. Imaging systems that have utilized advances in semiconductor technology for miniaturization have become more prevalent as the current system of choice for compact imaging. These devices have the advantage that they are able to maintain the learning of their big brother predecessor. Some of the disadvantages are that in order to miniaturize these devices, compromises are required in the overall complexity of the device. Some of these compromises have been lower channel count, decreased complexity of the beamformer and limited imaging modalities. As time advances, the overall clinical performance differences between these systems and their cart-based predecessors most likely shall narrow, but never exceed. Zon-based imaging systems have taken a different approach to the methods of image formation and, as such, have potentially broken the mold that has confined some of the performance limitations of the more traditional beamformer-based devices. These systems have the advantage of high image acquisition rates, extremely flexible image formation architecture, low cost of ownership and potential to exceed the clinical performance of traditional systems. Some of the disadvantages of these devices are that they require a high amount of signal processing capabilities and are currently in the infancy of performance capabilities. In this presentation, the basic architectures of each of these types of devices shall be analyzed, and the physical advantages and limitations will be communicated in detail. Several concrete image performance examples shall be presented of the various imaging architectures that convey and expand upon the underlying physics so that the differences of each architecture can be appreciated in a clinical manner. This presentation will also present some of the methods different groups have used to minimize their architectural disadvantages and improve their overall performance.