Volumetric Super-Resolution Ultrasound with a 1D array probe: a simulation study

Super-Resolution (SR) Ultrasound imaging overcomes the wave diffraction limit and can reveal microvasculature by localizing spatially isolated contrast agents. Volumetric SR ultrasound imaging, however, is limited by both the fabrication and computational complexity associated with 2D matrix array probes. The most used diagnostic imaging modality, X-ray radiography, requires much simpler hardware than X-ray CT and can present volumetric information in a single projection image. Inspired by X-ray radiography, this study aims to investigate the feasibility of volumetric image projection super-resolution (VIP-SR) ultrasound using a 1D transducer array probe in simulation. Results show that, without a focusing lens, the capability of capturing volumetric information for a 1D array probe is significantly improved over that of a focused 1D array probe and is comparable to that of a 1.75D array probe with the same aperture size. Here we demonstrated the potential of VIP-SR as a high-resolution microvascular imaging technique with volumetric information and significantly reduced cost.