Improved focusing method for 3-D imaging using row-column addressed 2-D arrays

A row-column-addressed (RCA) 2-D array can be interpreted as two orthogonal 1-D arrays. Since the transmit and receive 1-D arrays are orthogonal to each other, only one-way focusing is possible in each transmit or receive plane. By transmitting with row elements and receiving the echoes through column elements, a rectilinear volume in front of the array can be beamformed. This study suggests to use the RF-data received by the row elements as well as the column elements to improve the focusing. This study investigates the performance of the new focusing scheme based on simulations in Field II in terms of full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) and cystic resolution (CR).