Stabilization technique for real-time high-resolution vascular ultrasound using frequency domain interferometry

We have proposed an ultrasound imaging method based on frequency domain interferometry (FDI) with an adaptive beamforming technique to depict real-time high-resolution images of human carotid artery. Our previous study has investigated the performance of the proposed imaging method under an ideal condition with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In the present study, we propose a technique that has the potential to improve accuracy in estimating echo intensity using the FDI imaging method. We investigated the performance of the proposed technique in a simulation study that two flat interfaces were located at depths of 15.0 and 15.2 mm and white noise was added. Because the -6 dB bandwidth of the signal used in this simulation study is 2.6 MHz, the conventional B-mode imaging method failed to depict the two interfaces. Both the conventional and proposed FDI imaging methods succeeded to depict the two interfaces when the SNR ranged from 15 to 30 dB. However, the average error of the estimated echo intensity at the interfaces using the conventional FDI imaging method ranged from 7.2 to 10.5 dB. In contrast, that using the FDI imaging method with the proposed technique ranged from 2.0 to 2.2 dB. The present study demonstrates the potential of the FDI imaging method in depicting robust and high-range-resolution ultrasound images of arterial wall, indicating the possibility to improve the diagnosis of atherosclerosis in early stages.