Estimation error in speed of sound caused by rotation of measured cross-section from short-axis plane of blood vessels: a preliminary study

Abstract

Purpose Estimating the speed of sound (SoS) in ultrasound propagation media is important for improving the quality of B-mode images and for quantitative tissue characterization. We have been studying a method for estimating the SoS by measuring the reception time distribution of waves scattered from a scatterer at the elements in a probe. Previously, the measurement cross section was assumed to be perpendicular to the long axis of the blood vessel. In this study, we experimentally investigated the relationship between rotation angle $$\theta$$ θ of the probe relative to the short-axis plane of the blood vessel and the estimated SoS, $$\widehat{c}$$ c ^ . Methods Water tank and phantom experiments were conducted to investigate the characteristics of $$\widehat{c}$$ c ^ and element signals when the probe was rotated. Results The received signal powers at the elements around both edges greatly decreased as $$\theta$$ θ increased. We introduced a parameter representing the decrease in power, $${P}_{\mathrm{dec}}$$ P dec , in the received signal at the elements at both edges relative to the center element. $$\widehat{c}$$ c ^ was estimated to be larger as $$\theta$$ θ increased, especially for $$\theta \ge 30^\circ$$ θ ≥ 30 ∘ . $${P}_{\mathrm{dec}}$$ P dec also increased as $$\theta$$ θ increased. An approximately proportional relationship existed between the errors in $$\widehat{c}$$ c ^ and $${P}_{\mathrm{dec}}$$ P dec . Conclusion Based on these results, we can distinguish between the presence and the absence of SoS misestimations using the difference in power among the elements in the received signal. In the absence of misestimation, we can obtain the true SoS, even if the target has a non-negligible size, by applying our previously proposed methods.