A programmable, cost-effective, real-time high frequency ultrasound imaging board based on high-speed FPGA

Abstract

High frequency (>20MHz) ultrasound imaging has made it possible to delineate small structures with fine spatial resolution. Previously, a high frequency high frame rate imaging system had been developed for small animal cardiac imaging. This paper presents further development of a programmable, low-cost, real-time high frequency ultrasound imaging board based on high-speed FPGA. Utilization of FPGA facilitates programmable applications with high flexibility. The printed circuit board (PCB) design achieves cost-effectiveness and compactness. The PCI bus interface allows high speed data transfer and real-time imaging. The dedicated front-end electronics showed a minimum detectable signal of 18μV, allowing a 50dB dynamic range at a total gain of 50dB. The high-speed analog to digital converter (ADC) with a typical 10.8 bit ENOB was employed to accomplish high speed data acquisition. Algorithms such as band-pass filter, envelope detection and digital scan converter were implemented in the FPGA with high speed and high flexibility. Finally, wire phantom experiment showed good performance of such a programmable and compact design.