Experimental comparison of a Large Divergent Elements Sparse Array and Row-Column Array for 3D ultrasound imaging

In 3D echography, reducing the complexity of the systems, which otherwise require several thousand channels to drive the probes, is a crucial consideration. In this regard, ultrasound probes with row-column array (RCA) and large divergent element sparse array (LDESA) configurations are two competing designs. In this study, we compare the performance of the two types of probes across multiple factors, including lateral and horizontal resolutions and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). The two probes displayed comparable performance while imaging the zone directly beneath the probe’s surface. However, the sparse probe achieved better resolution as the target reached beyond the probe shadow.