Coded Excitation with Unfocused Plane Waves for 3D Imaging Using a 2D Row Column Addressed Array

Conventional linear array transducers are widely used both in research and clinical fields. However, to obtain 3-dimensional anatomical information, probes beyond linear arrays are required. Ideally, a 2D matrix is used to obtain such 3d dimensional data. However, due to the high number of electronic channels required by a fully addressed two-dimensional matrix array transducer, processing become complicated. As a result, near real time imaging become infeasible. As an alternative to the fully addressed matrix array, row-column addressed array (RCA) was proposed. This array transducer consists of two orthogonally aligned one dimensional set of elements. As a result, a fraction of number of channels needed for fully matrix array is required. However, to achieve higher penetration depth with the RCA, higher energy is required which may surpasses the safety limits. It have been shown that Coded Excitation is an efficient way to increase then penetration depth without sacrificing the safety limit. In this study, to detect deeper target without surpasing the safety limit, the extensively used coded excitation is extended to three-dimensional case. Under the mentioned conditions in this study, targets deeper than 10 cm was shown to be detected through Coded Excitation.