Computed ultrasound tomography in echo mode (cute) for imaging speed of sound using pulse-echo sonography

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining and particularly imaging sound speed in an object by means of pulse-echo ultrasound, comprising the steps of: transmitting by means of an ultrasound probe () at least a first ultrasound pulse () in a first direction (φ) and a second ultrasound pulse () in a different second direction (φ) into an object (O) to be imaged, so that said first ultrasound pulse () is backscattered in said object towards said ultrasound probe in the form of first ultrasound pulse echoes (), and so that said second ultrasound pulse () is backscattered in said object towards said ultrasound probe in the form of second ultrasound pulse echoes (), detecting said backscattered first ultrasound pulse echoes () and said backscattered second ultrasound pulse echoes () with said ultrasound probe (), reconstructing from said detected backscattered first ultrasound pulse echoes () a first image of first local echoes () and from said detected backscattered second ultrasound pulse echoes () a second image of second local echoes (), wherein said images lie in an image plane spanned by said directions (φ, φ), determining from said reconstructed images the respective resulting local echo phase shift Δτ(x, z, φ, φ) corresponding to the difference in echo time (t) between the respective first local echo and the corresponding second local echo relative to the case of an assumed constant sound speed, and determining the local sound speed c(x, z) in said object for at least a region of said image plane in said object from said local echo phase shift Δτ(x, z, φ, φ). Further, the invention relates to a corresponding computer program and a system.