Genetic Algorithm-based Sparse Matrix Beamforming

A sparse matrix receive beamforming method variation using a genetic algorithm was developed and implemented to optimize the delay/apodization values aiming at improving image quality. In-vitro experiments were performed, validating the technique’s image quality metric improvement: the optimized image saw an overall figure-of-merit improvement of 73.46% mainly due to the 28.16% improvement in lateral resolution, 16.53% in cyst contrast resolution and 4.84% in axial resolution.