Basics of B-mode imaging

Abstract

Unlike X-rays, ultrasound diagnosis is a highly noninvasive and safe diagnostic method that can be used for fetal diagnosis without exposure to radiation. In addition, it is simple enough to acquire cross-sectional images of the body simply by applying an ultrasound probe to the body surface, and it has portability that allows the device to be miniaturized. Therefore, ultrasound examinations are also available at the bedside or in the surgical field. Furthermore, it is excellent for real-time observation of moving tissues such as the heart and blood and serves as an indispensable diagnostic method in clinical practice. B mode (brightness mode) is the most basic image diagnosis mode in ultrasonic diagnosis. To correctly interpret B-mode images that reflect the complicated wave propagation in living tissues, it is important to understand the principle of image reconstruction based on the pulse-echo method, image resolution, and the mechanism of artifact generation. This paper highlights these and outlines them with some experimental results. Also, examples of new developments in B-mode imaging are presented.