Blind Deconvolution of Ultrasound Images Using l -Norm-Constrained Block-Based Damped Variable Step-Size Multichannel LMS Algorithm

• Published in: IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control Vol. 63; no. 8; pp. 1116 - 1130
• Main Authors: Hasan, Md Kamrul, Shifat-E-Rabbi, Md, Soo Yeol Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.08.2016
• Subjects: Algorithms; Axial blocking; blind deconvolution; Blinds; Convolution; Cost function; Deconvolution; Estimation; Imaging; In vivo methods and tests; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical model; Mathematical models; Multichannel; multichannel least-mean square (LMS); Radio frequency; regularized multiple-input/output inverse theorem (MINT); single-input multiple-output (SIMO) model; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; ultrasound image
• ISSN: 0885-3010; 1525-8955
• DOI: 10.1109/TUFFC.2016.2577640

The problem of improving the ultrasound image resolution by undoing the effect of convolution on backscattered radio-frequency (RF) data caused by the point spread function (PSF) of ultrasonic imaging system is one of the key problems in the reconstruction of the medical ultrasound images. In this paper, the tissue reflectivity functions (TRFs) are directly estimated from the noisy and nonstationary RF data using the block-based multichannel least-mean square (l 1 -bMCLMS) algorithm without any prior knowledge of the PSF. To account for the nonstationarity and incomplete acquisition problem of the ultrasound RF data a modified block-based cross-relation equation has been developed. An l 1 -norm regularized cost function based on the proposed modified cross-relation equation is then formulated for blind estimation of the TRFs using the new l 1 -bMCLMS algorithm. A damped variable step-size is also developed to compensate for the noise effect and to improve the convergence speed of the algorithm. The PSF is then estimated from multiple lateral blocks of RF data using the regularized multiple-input/output inverse theorem, which is known to be suitable for both minimum and nonminimum phase signals. The salient feature of the proposed method is that no basis function is required for TRFs and/or PSF. The efficacy of the proposed method is examined using the simulation/experimental phantom data and in vivo RF data and evaluated in terms of the quality metrics: resolution gain (RG), normalized projection misalignment (NPM), and shifted normalized mean square error (snMSE). The results show that the RG and NPM improvements of TRFs estimation of 0.12~5.2 and 3.34~22.82 dB, respectively, and the snMSE improvement of the PSF estimation of the order 10 2~4 can be achieved in our technique as compared with the other techniques in the literature.