Short-lag spatial coherence imaging

Conventional ultrasound images are formed by delay-and-sum beamforming ofthe backscattered echoes received by the transducer aperture. Although thedelay-and-sum beamformer is well suited for ultrasound image formation, it ischallenged under non-ideal circumstances, such as the presence of acousticclutter and phase aberration. We propose an alternative method of imagingutilizing the short-lag spatial coherence of the backscattered echoes. Comparedto matched B-mode images, short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) images demonstratesuperior SNR and CNR in simulated speckle-generating phantom targets. Similarresults are achieved in matched experimental B-mode and SLSC images of aspeckle-generating phantom target, a human thyroid, and a sheep heart.