Elevation beam profile measurement : a simple test object for evaluation of arrays and 3D imaging performance

Beam characteristics in the elevation plane of linear and curvilinear arrays are difficult to test. With a set of oblique reflecting planes crossing the scan plane at a 45/spl deg/ angle, the elevation beam profile is clearly displayed on the standard echographic image. Such a test object is useful to test 1D arrays with fixed geometrical focusing and 1.5D arrays with electronic focusing in the elevation direction. The influence of elevation focusing for 3D imaging is also demonstrated in order to optimize 3D data acquisition.