Ultrasound open platforms are programmable and flexible tools for the development and test of novel methods. In most cases, they embed the electronics for the independent control of (maximum) 256 probe elements. However, a higher number of channels is needed for the control of 2-D array probes. This paper presents a system architecture that, through the hardware and software synchronization of multiple ULA-OP 256 scanners, may implement advanced open platforms with an arbitrary number of channels. The proposed solution needs a single personal computer, maintains real-time features, and preserves portability. A prototype demonstrator, composed of two ULA-OP 256 scanners connected to 512 elements of a matrix array, was implemented and tested according to different channel configurations. Experiments performed under MATLAB control confirmed that by doubling the number of elements (from 256 to 512) the signal-to-noise and contrast ratios improve by 9 dB and 3 dB, respectively. Furthermore, as a full 512-channel scanner, the demonstrator can produce real-time B-mode images at 18 Hz, high enough for probe positioning during acquisitions. Also, the demonstrator permitted the implementation of a new high frame rate, bi-plane, triplex modality. All probe elements are excited to simultaneously produce two planar, perpendicular diverging waves. Each scanner independently processes the echoes received by the 256 connected elements to beamform 1300 frames per second. For each insonified plane, good quality morphological (B-mode), qualitative (color flow-), and quantitative (spectral-) Doppler images are finally shown in real-time by a dedicated interface.

中文翻译：

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具有任意数量独立通道的超声高级开放平台架构

超声开放平台是用于开发和测试新方法的可编程且灵活的工具。在大多数情况下，他们嵌入了电子设备以独立控制（最多）256 个探头元件。然而，控制二维阵列探头需要更多的通道。本文提出了一种系统架构，通过多个 ULA-OP 256 扫描仪的硬件和软件同步，可以实现具有任意数量通道的高级开放平台。建议的解决方案需要一台个人计算机，保持实时功能，并保持便携性。原型演示器由两个连接到矩阵阵列的 512 个元素的 ULA-OP 256 扫描仪组成，根据不同的通道配置进行了实施和测试。在 MATLAB 控制下进行的实验证实，通过将元素数量加倍（从 256 到 512），信噪比和对比度分别提高了 9 dB 和 3 dB。此外，作为一个完整的 512 通道扫描仪，演示器可以产生 18 Hz 的实时 B 模式图像，足以在采集过程中进行探头定位。此外，演示器允许实施新的高帧率、双平面、三重模态。所有探头元件被激发以同时产生两个平面的、垂直的发散波。每个扫描仪独立处理由 256 个连接元件接收到的回波，以每秒 1300 帧的速度形成波束。对于每个声波平面，高质量的形态（B 模式）、定性（色流）、