Image-Based Ultrasound Speed Estimation: Phantom and Human Liver Studies

Purpose: A novel image-based method for speed of sound (SoS) estimation is proposed and experimentally validated on a tissue-mimicking ultrasound phantom normal human liver in vivo using linear curved array transducers. Methods: When the beamforming SoS settings are adjusted to match real tissue’s SoS, image at regions interest will be focus quality optimal. Based this principle, both were used study. Ultrasound was acquired different channels ranging from 1420 m/sec 1600 m/sec. Two (ROIs) selected. One fully developed speckle region, while other contained specular reflectors. We evaluated these two ROIs images by normalized autocorrelation function (ACF) data. The values ACF specific lag as setting computed. Subsequently, soft determined minimum value ACF. Results: can computed images. tissue results show that 1460 m/sec, which consistent with manufacturer’s specification, 1540 within range healthy vivo. Conclusion: Soft analyzing based searching data among channels.