Ultrasonic diffraction tomography: the experimental result

Abstract

Diffraction tomography is a technique for imaging with acoustic fields. It takes advantage of the linearization process of the non-linear wave equation describing wave propagation in heterogeneous media. When the scattering effect is weak, one can invoke the Born or Rytov approximation and thus derive the generalized Fourier Slice Theorem to reconstruct the cross-section of the insonified object. Although diffraction tomography is a promising technology for medical application as it provides a quantitative ultrasonic image, its realization toward medical use is still far-to-go, this may be due to the complexity of the hardware involved. In this research we investigate a potential use of diffraction tomography for medical application by using a delicate-designed ultrasonic computerized tomographic system. The result of experiment investigation of diffraction tomography is very promising.