Bias-Switchable Row-Column Array Imaging using Fast Orthogonal Row-Column Electronic Scanning (FORCES) Compared with Conventional Row-Column Array Imaging

Abstract: Row-Column Arrays (RCAs) offer an attractive alternative to fully wired 2D-arrays for 3D-ultrasound, due to their greatly simplified wiring. However, conventional RCAs face challenges related to their long elements. These include an inability to image beyond the shadow of the aperture and an inability to focus in both transmit and receive for desired scan planes. To address these limitations, we recently developed bias-switchable RCAs, also known as Top Orthogonal to Bottom Electrode (TOBE) arrays. These arrays provide novel opportunities to read out from every element of the array and achieve high-quality images. While TOBE arrays and their associated imaging schemes have shown promise, they have not yet been directly compared experimentally to conventional RCA imaging techniques. This study aims to provide such a comparison, demonstrating superior B-scan and volumetric images from two electrostrictive relaxor TOBE arrays, using a method called Fast Orthogonal Row-Column Electronic scanning (FORCES), compared to conventional RCA imaging schemes, including Tilted Plane Wave (TPW) compounding and Virtual Line Source (VLS) imaging. The study quantifies resolution and Generalized Contrast to Noise Ratio (gCNR) in phantoms, and also demonstrates volumetric acquisitions in phantom and animal models.