A new adaptive technique for measuring blood vessel diameter and wall thickness is presented. This technique allows one to use a target-specific transmitted waveform/receiver filter to obtain a larger signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the received signal than using conventional techniques. As the intensity of the transmitted wave increases the SNR in the received signal increases. However, because of the FDA limitations placed on the amount of transmit energy, it is important to be able to make the most efficient use of the energy that is available to obtain the best possible SNR in the received signal. The adaptive ultrasonic measurement technique presented here makes the most efficient use of the energy that is available by placing the maximum amount of energy in the largest target scattering mode. Here, adaptive ultrasonic measurement of blood vessel diameter is explored via computer simulations.
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