Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biomedical Engineering

Committee Chair

Carl Herickhoff

Committee Member

Kaushik Parthasarathi

Committee Member

Zach Abramson

Abstract

The development of a first-generation ultrasound body scanner aims to acquire preliminary signal data and image results that will aid in the design of a system with a scalable transducer array for comprehensive abdominal imaging. This system aims to enhance the diagnostic capabilities of ultrasound with the potential for improved image quality, a broader field of view (i.e., better body coverage), and quantitative images. Currently, the prototype utilizes two single-element transducers mechanically swept across a 180-degree arc, with the goal of expanding to a scalable curved transducer array in future designs to enable potential clinical use. Furthermore, the first-generation ultrasound body scanner aims to provide data to evaluate the potential of Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) to produce high-resolution, cross-sectional, and volumetric 3D images of the abdomen through multistatic transmission ultrasound data. Key research objectives include improving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) through noise mitigation techniques, optimizing the time gain compensation (TGC) curve, and comparing monostatic and multistatic acquisition configurations. Full synthetic aperture (FSA) acquisition using various angular densities (16, 32, 48, 64) around the arc is analyzed, showing improved image quality with the increased number of acquisition points. The findings show a decrease in noise by 2.95 dB when using metallic shielding around the connector, as well as a TGC curve that reduces amplitude variation vs. depth by less than 10%. Image quality improved both qualitatively and quantitatively when comparing monostatic and multistatic imaging configurations as well as when the angular sampling density (i.e., number of positions around the arc) was increased. These results demonstrate the potential of the ultrasound body scanner to offer diagnostic-quality imaging with improved clarity and contrast, providing a promising alternative modality for abdominal imaging.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

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Notes

Open access.

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