Prospects And Limitations Of Diagnostic Ultrasound

O. T. von Ramm; S. W. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.958184

26 December 1979 Prospects And Limitations Of Diagnostic Ultrasound

O. T. von Ramm, S. W. Smith

Proceedings Volume 0206, Recent and Future Developments in Medical Imaging II; (1979) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.958184
Event: 23rd Annual Technical Symposium, 1979, San Diego, United States

Abstract

The current state of medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging is analyzed including discussions of present limitations and possible solutions of these problems. Ultrasound is unique in that tomographic images are formed from mechanical energy reflected from tissue interfaces of differing acoustic impedance. The low propagation velocities of ultrasound (1540 m/sec) coupled with the range of diagnostic frequencies (1-30 MHz) result in excellent image resolution (2mm x 2mm) and permit electronic signal processing to achieve portable real time dynamically focused scanning systems at relatively low cost. Diagnostic ultrasound is applied in obstetrics, cardiology, abdominal imaging and ophthalmology but it versatility is limited by the physical characteristics of tissue. The relative impenetrability of bone and tissue containing air hinder its use in the head, lung and intestines. Tissue inhomogeneities throughout the entire body make it impossible to achieve diffraction limited resolution, and the slow propagation velocities of sound place an upper limit on the image data acquisition rate. Research is ongoing to improve resolution by adaptive imaging techniques, and parallel processing will hopefully increase data acquisition. These improvements depend heavily on advances in electronics technology.

Citation Download Citation

O. T. von Ramm and S. W. Smith "Prospects And Limitations Of Diagnostic Ultrasound", Proc. SPIE 0206, Recent and Future Developments in Medical Imaging II, (26 December 1979); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.958184

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available