Three-Dimensional Tissue Hardness Imaging

Abstract

A method for generating hardness information of tissue subject to a varying pressure. The method comprises receiving signals from the tissue from a sensor for measuring the deformation of the tissue in a measuring plane defined by the sensor, which sensor, during a varying pressure exerted on the tissue, is moved along the tissue in a direction transverse to the measuring plane; identifying strain of the tissue from the resulting signals; and relating the strain to elasticity and / or hardness parameters of the tissue. The method may comprise the step of displaying elasticity and / or hardness parameters of a tissue surface or tissue volume part extending practically parallel to the direction of motion of the sensor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of PCT International Patent Application No. PCT / NL / 02 / 00572, filed on Sep. 2, 2002, designating the United States of America, and published, in English, as PCT International Publication No. WO 03 / 017845 A1 on Mar. 6, 2003, the contents of the entirety of which is incorporated by this reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This invention relates to a method for generating hardness information of tissue subject to a varying pressure. In particular, the method relates to a method for generating hardness information of the wall of a blood vessel or body cavity.BACKGROUND[0003]Such a method is known from European patent application EP-A 0 908 137. In this application, the strain (deformation) of vessel walls is derived with ultrasound from the relative displacement of a more inward layer and a more outward layer of the vessel wall as a result of the pressure varying through the heartbeat. These relative displacements ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a method to consistently and accurately analyze the hardness and elasticity of a body cavity, such as a blood vessel, by measuring the movement of the sensor in a perpendicular direction to the measuring plane. This motion, along with signals received during a specific time period, results in data that can be easily processed and stored. The method is simpler and more efficient than current techniques that require stable sensor positioning, leading to improved accuracy in the detection of hardness and elasticity properties.

Problems solved by technology

Such information is often not derivable from a conventional echogram, since the image of high-risk cannot be distinguished from less high-risk plaques.

If the stresses become too high, a plaque can tear open, so that a life-threatening thrombosis can arise.

With the present technique, it is practically very difficult to reproducibly analyze a blood vessel in such a manner.

Furthermore, on the basis of conventional echographic data it is very hard to localize a suspect spot in a blood vessel.

In fact, the performance of a single transverse scan at selected positions in a blood vessel provides insufficient information to enable determination of the presence or absence of plaques in the blood vessel as a whole.

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