The effect of crosstalk in a circular transducer array on ultrasound transmission tomography of breast

Various types of undesirable crosstalk can occur in ultrasonic arrays consisting of a number of elementary piezoelectric transducers. Crosstalk is a result of deficiency in electrical or mechanical isolation between array elements. It is a function of proximity between piezoelectric transducers of the array or between connections. Small piezoceramic transducers tightly located inside of a circle (cylinder or sphere in 3-D systems) are mostly used for in vivo ultrasound tomography imaging of breast tissue. This means that proper switching of transducers makes it possible to quickly acquire tomographic transmission and reflection data for all directions around the object. A problem with such arrangements is the occurrence of crosstalk, which introduce specific errors to measurement data. Transmission and reflection tomographic images reconstructed based on ultrasonic measurements with crosstalk are distorted in a characteristic way. This work analyzes the effect of crosstalk in a circular transducer array o...