SLSC Beamforming with Filtered Cross-Correlation-Induced Harmonics to Improve Spatial Resolution

Improving resolution and reducing clutter in ultrasound imaging remains a significant challenge for conventional beamforming techniques. This paper introduces a novel algorithm that integrates Hermite (H)-scan filtering with short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) beamforming. The proposed algorithm applies Gaussian-weighted Hermite polynomials (GWHPs) to raw channel data before performing spatial correlations, aiming to enhance lateral resolution and reduce clutter. Simulations indicate that the filtered cross-correlation effectively introduces harmonic components, while phantom experiments confirm that these induced harmonics enhance lateral resolution, as demonstrated by the reduction in FWHM measurements of point targets. Quantitative evaluations further verify that our algorithm consistently achieves superior lateral resolution compared to fundamental and harmonic SLSC techniques. These results highlight the potential of GWHP filters to significantly improve the resolution and quality of coherence-based ultrasound images.