Fourier based imaging method with steered plane waves and limited-diffraction array beams

A high frame rate (HFR) imaging theory was developed based on limited diffraction beams in 1997 (up to 3750 three-dimensional (3D) volumes/s for a depth of 200 mm in biological soft tissues). In this paper, the theory is extended to include explicitly various transmission schemes such as multiple limited-diffraction array beams and steered plane waves. Computer simulations and in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to verify the extended theory. Results show that the extended theory provides a continuous compromise between image quality and frame rate which is useful in clinic.