Abstract
We propose two new methods that allow the determination of the phase delays corresponding to phase aberration efficiently. We derive a new optimization methodology to compute the best compensation phase delays in successive steps. In particular, we start with an array consisting of one element with a specific excitation pattern. Then, another element is added and the dynamic receive delays are iteratively computed such that the obtained echoes are optimal in strength. A third element is added and the process is repeated. This process continues until all elements in the aperture are added. Hence, instead of solving the conventional N-dimensional problem of adjusting the delays of N elements together to achieve optimal characteristics, we transform the problem into the one of solving N-1 consecutive one-dimensional optimization problems. Given the fact that the set of available delay values is finite, the one-dimensional problem is shown to be a classical combinatorial optimization problem. The other technique based on Fourier transform tries to align signals based on information from a single frequency selected as the center frequency of the probe. This method is simple, computationally efficient and lends itself to real-time implementation. The proposed methods were implemented to correct real data from a resolution phantom and the results particularly indicate the potential of the second method.