Ultrasonic refractive index and sound velocity tomography

Ultrasonic computed tomography (UCT) is one of the methods capable of tissue characterization. It is expected to provide not only a quantitative image but also diagnostic information. As in X-ray CT, UCT requires a projection data to reconstruct a cross-sectional image. The projection data of ultrasonic tomography is based on measurement the time delay, which is time difference between ultrasound traverse with and without object. In this paper, we investigate two different types of quantitative UCT image, refractive-index and sound-velocity image. We purpose the new method of measurement the time delay by converting the received ultrasonic pulse to frequency domain and measuring the phase shift of the center frequency of the broadband pulse. The method seems more robust to noise. Two image reconstruction techniques are used for comparison purpose including traditional filtered back-projection and simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART).