Robust artifacts suppression in ultrasound passive cavitation mapping using multi-apodization with cross-correlation

Ultrasound passive cavitation mapping (UPCM) technique can feed back the distribution information and scattering intensity of ultrasound cavitation in space, and has been proposed for the purpose of ultrasound treatment monitoring. The traditional UPCM reconstruction algorithm based on time exposure acoustics (TEA) introduces the artifacts due to large axial extension and high sidelobes when using the array transducers for diagnostic purposes as passive receivers. We recently applied dual apodization with cross-correlation (DAX) technique to enhance UPCM performance. In this study we propose an enhanced version by using multi-apodization with cross-correlation (MAX), where multiple receive apodization functions divided from DAX apodization functions are used. The obtained results on single- and multi-source simulations indicate that MAX-UPCM algorithm increases the image contrast by 20.2 dB and 23.4 dB over TEA-UPCM algorithm and by 10.1 dB and 7.7 dB over DAX-UPCM algorithm. The robust performance of the proposed UPCM algorithm in this study may enhance the detectability of ultrasound-induced cavitation and benefit the treatment monitoring.