Instrument-independent acoustic backscatter coefficient imaging.

This paper presents an adaptation of a method for determining acoustic backscatter coefficients to produce quantitative ultrasound images. Backscattered echo signals are recorded from a region to be imaged and backscatter coefficients are determined and related to spatial position. The values of the backscatter coefficients are then translated into a gray scale image. Testing of this imaging technique has been performed using tissue-mimicking phantoms which contain sections having backscatter coefficients different from that of the surrounding material. The technique has also been tested using a phantom in which a fat-mimicking layer is interposed between the acoustic window and the main body of the phantom. The images produced were found to be quantitatively accurate throughout the phantom, including the sections with differing backscatter. Quantitative accuracy did not suffer when the fat-mimicking layer was present.