Beamforming design to suppress response from strong reflectors

A novel algorithm of beamforming design is proposed on the basis of the constrained least squares method for suppressing the unwanted response from strong reflectors while preserving the response from soft tissues. The constrained least-squares method is suitable for multiobjective optimization such as that required for beamforming design. In the proposed algorithm, not only the apodization weight but also the phase shift of the transmit and receive signals of each array transducer element are optimized. Imaging of hypoechoic cysts located next to strong reflectors was numerically simulated. It was demonstrated that the artifacts due to the strong reflectors can be significantly reduced by the proposed beamforming design.