Transient elasticity measurement method and ultrasonic imaging system

Abstract

A transient elastography method and an ultrasonic imaging system, the method comprising: acquiring a start command of continuous multiple transient elastography measurements, and starting the continuous multiple transient elastography measurements on a target region of a measured object, measuring a pressure between an ultrasonic probe and the measured object in real time during the continuous multiple transient elastography measurements; prompting a state of the pressure before each transient elastography measurement, the state of the pressure being used to guide a user to adjust the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the measured object. The application measures the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the measured object in real time during the continuous multiple transient elastography measurements, and prompts the state of the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the measured object before each transient elastography measurement, so as to facilitate the user to adjust the pressure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of ultrasonic imaging technology, and more specifically to a transient elasticity measurement method and an ultrasonic imaging system. Background Art

[0002] Ultrasonic elastography has been a hot topic in clinical research in recent years. It mainly reflects the elasticity or hardness of tissues and has been increasingly used in the auxiliary detection of tissue cancer lesions, differentiation of benign and malignant lesions, and prognosis and recovery evaluation.

[0003] Ultrasound elastography primarily reflects the softness and hardness of tissues by imaging elasticity-related parameters within a region of interest. Over the past two decades, numerous different elastography methods have emerged, including quasi-static elastography, which uses probe pressure to induce tissue strain; shear wave elastography or elastometry, which uses acoustic radiation forces to generate shear waves; and transient elastography, which uses external vibrations to generate shear waves.

[0004] Among them, transient elastography mainly reflects the elasticity or hardness of tissues through the method of ultrasonic non-invasive detection. It is widely welcomed by doctors in clinical liver disease detection, especially in the auxiliary diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Taking liver examination as an example, it generally controls a special probe to vibrate externally when in contact with the body surface, thereby generating shear waves that are transmitted deep into the tissue, and then emitting axial ultrasonic waves to the tissue and receiving echo signals for a period of time to obtain the propagation information of the shear wave. Finally, the propagation speed of the shear wave is calculated and the quantitative elasticity results of the tissue are obtained. In this process, the transient elasticity measurement results obtained by holding the ultrasonic probe with different forces may be different. However, in clinical practice, when performing multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, since the ultrasonic probe will vibrate multiple times continuously, the user cannot maintain a continuous and stable force, and it is difficult to ensure that multiple measurement results are obtained at appropriate or close forces, and it is also difficult to adjust the force in time during the measurement. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The Summary of the Invention introduces a series of simplified concepts that will be further described in the Detailed Description of the Invention. The Summary of the Invention of this application is not intended to limit the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor is it intended to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for measuring instantaneous elasticity, the method comprising:

[0007] Obtaining a start command for multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each of the transient elasticity measurements includes: applying mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling an ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area based on the ultrasonic echo signals;

[0008] During the continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, measuring the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object being measured in real time;

[0009] The pressure status is prompted before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, and the pressure status is used to guide the user to adjust the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object being measured.

[0010] A second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for measuring transient elasticity, the method comprising:

[0011] Obtaining a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each transient elasticity measurement comprises: outputting a driving signal to an ultrasonic probe to drive the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals;

[0012] During the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, measuring the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object in real time;

[0013] The intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, so that the difference between the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements and the reference vibration amplitude is within a preset range.

[0014] A third aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for measuring instantaneous elasticity, the method comprising:

[0015] Obtaining a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each transient elasticity measurement comprises: outputting a driving signal to an ultrasonic probe to drive the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals;

[0016] During the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, measuring the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object in real time;

[0017] The intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, so that the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurement processes remains consistent.

[0018] A fourth aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for measuring instantaneous elasticity, the method comprising:

[0019] Obtaining a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each transient elasticity measurement comprises: outputting a driving signal to an ultrasonic probe to drive the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals;

[0020] During the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, measuring the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object in real time;

[0021] After the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, the pressure status is prompted, and the pressure status is used to guide the user to determine the reliability of the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements.

[0022] A fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:

[0023] an ultrasonic probe for applying mechanical vibration to a measured object to generate shear waves in a target area of ​​the measured object;

[0024] a transmitting / receiving circuit, configured to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear wave toward the target area, and to receive ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals;

[0025] a processor, configured to obtain a transient elasticity measurement result of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signal;

[0026] The processor is further configured to execute the steps of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method provided in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] A sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:

[0028] an ultrasonic probe for applying mechanical vibration to a measured object to generate shear waves in a target area of ​​the measured object;

[0029] a transmitting / receiving circuit, configured to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear wave toward the target area, and to receive ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals;

[0030] a processor, configured to obtain a transient elasticity measurement result of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signal;

[0031] The processor is further configured to execute the steps of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method provided in the second aspect of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] A seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:

[0033] an ultrasonic probe for applying mechanical vibration to a measured object to generate shear waves in a target area of ​​the measured object;

[0034] a transmitting / receiving circuit, configured to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear wave toward the target area, and to receive ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals;

[0035] a processor, configured to obtain a transient elasticity measurement result of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signal;

[0036] The processor is further configured to execute the steps of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method provided in the third aspect of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] An eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides an ultrasound imaging system, comprising:

[0038] an ultrasonic probe for applying mechanical vibration to a measured object to generate shear waves in a target area of ​​the measured object;

[0039] a transmitting / receiving circuit, configured to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear wave toward the target area, and to receive ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals;

[0040] a processor, configured to obtain a transient elasticity measurement result of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signal;

[0041] The processor is further configured to execute the steps of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method provided in the fourth aspect of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] The transient elasticity measurement method and ultrasonic imaging system of an embodiment of the present invention measure the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object to be measured in real time during multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, and prompt the status of the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object to be measured before each transient elasticity measurement, so as to facilitate the user to adjust the pressure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present application will become more apparent through a more detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present invention, they are used to explain the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. In the drawings, the same reference numerals generally represent the same components or steps.

[0044] Figure 1 A structural block diagram of an ultrasound imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0045] Figure 2 A schematic flow chart showing a method for measuring transient elasticity according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating a mechanical vibration and ultrasonic wave transmission / reception sequence for transient elasticity measurement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 4A A schematic diagram showing a graph representing a state of pressure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 4B A schematic diagram showing a display interface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 5 A graph showing a state of pressure according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0050] Figure 6 A schematic flow chart showing a method for measuring transient elasticity according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing vibration waveforms of mechanical vibrations corresponding to different pressures according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more apparent, the following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application, and it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the example embodiments described herein. Based on the embodiments of the present application described in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0053] In the following description, a large number of specific details are provided to provide a more thorough understanding of the present application. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present application can be implemented without one or more of these details. In other examples, some technical features well known in the art are not described in order to avoid confusion with the present application.

[0054] It should be understood that the present application can be implemented in different forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. On the contrary, providing these embodiments will make the disclosure thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present application to those skilled in the art.

[0055] The purpose of the terms used herein is only to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present application. When used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "comprising" and / or "including", when used in this specification, determine the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or groups. When used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of the relevant listed items.

[0056] In order to fully understand the present application, a detailed structure will be provided in the following description to illustrate the technical solution proposed by the present application. The optional embodiments of the present application are described in detail below. However, in addition to these detailed descriptions, the present application may also have other implementation methods.

[0057] Next, first refer to Figure 1 An ultrasound imaging system according to an embodiment of the present application is described. Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a schematic structural block diagram of an ultrasound imaging system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0058] like Figure 1As shown, the ultrasound imaging system 100 includes an ultrasound probe 110, a transmitting / receiving circuit 120, an imaging sequence control module 130, a beamforming module 140, a processor 150, and a display 160. The imaging sequence control module 130 includes an ultrasound transmitting / receiving sequence control module and a driving sequence control module. The ultrasound transmitting / receiving sequence control module is used to generate an ultrasound transmitting sequence and a receiving sequence to control the ultrasound probe to transmit ultrasound waves and receive ultrasound echoes. The driving sequence control module is used to generate a vibration driving sequence to control the ultrasound probe to generate mechanical vibrations.

[0059] Specifically, the ultrasound probe 110 includes multiple transducer elements. These elements can be arranged in a row to form a linear array, or arranged in a two-dimensional matrix to form a planar array. The transducers can also form a convex array. The transducers are used to transmit ultrasonic waves based on excitation electrical signals, or to convert received ultrasonic waves into electrical signals. Therefore, each element can be used to convert electrical pulse signals into and from ultrasonic waves, thereby transmitting ultrasonic waves to the tissue of the target area of ​​the subject being measured, and also to receive ultrasonic echoes reflected from the tissue. During ultrasound imaging, the transmit and receive sequences can be used to control which transducer elements are used to transmit and which are used to receive ultrasonic waves, or to control the time slots used to transmit and receive ultrasonic echoes. Transducer elements involved in ultrasonic transmission can be simultaneously excited by electrical signals, thereby simultaneously transmitting ultrasonic waves. Alternatively, transducer elements involved in ultrasonic beam transmission can be excited by multiple electrical signals with a certain time interval, thereby continuously transmitting ultrasonic waves with a certain time interval.

[0060] The ultrasound probe 100 may also include a vibrator. During transient elastic testing, the vibrator generates mechanical vibrations under the control of a vibration drive signal output by the drive module, thereby generating shear waves that propagate through the tissue in the target area of ​​the object being tested. The ultrasound probe 110 may also include a pressure sensing module for detecting the pressure when the ultrasound probe 100 contacts the object being tested.

[0061] In order to track the shear waves generated in the target area of ​​the object under test, the transmit / receive circuit 120 sends the transmit sequence generated by the imaging sequence control module 130 to the ultrasonic probe 110. The ultrasonic probe 110 is stimulated by the transmit sequence to transmit an ultrasonic beam that tracks the shear waves to the tissue in the target area of ​​the object under test. After a certain delay, the ultrasonic probe 110 receives the ultrasonic echo containing tissue information reflected from the tissue in the target area and reconverts the ultrasonic echo into an electrical signal. The transmit / receive circuit 120 receives the electrical signal converted and generated by the ultrasonic probe 110, obtains the ultrasonic echo signal, and sends the ultrasonic echo signal to the beamforming module 140. The beamforming module 140 performs focusing delay, weighting and channel summing on the ultrasonic echo data, and then sends it to the processor 150.

[0062] In transient elastography mode, processor 150 performs elastography processing on the ultrasound echo signals to obtain transient elastography measurement results. In other imaging modes, processor 150 can also perform signal detection, signal enhancement, data conversion, logarithmic compression, and other processing on the ultrasound echo signals to form an ultrasound image. The ultrasound image and transient elastography measurement results obtained by processor 150 can be displayed on display 160 or stored in memory.

[0063] Optionally, the processor 150 may be implemented as software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof, and may use one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more general-purpose integrated circuits, one or more microprocessors, one or more programmable logic devices, or any combination of the foregoing circuits and / or devices, or other suitable circuits or devices. Furthermore, the processor 150 may control other components in the ultrasound imaging system 100 to execute the corresponding steps of the methods described in various embodiments of this specification.

[0064] The display 160 is connected to the processor 150. The display 160 may be a touch screen display, a liquid crystal display, or the like. Alternatively, the display 160 may be an independent display such as a liquid crystal display or a television, independent of the ultrasound imaging system 100. Alternatively, the display 160 may be a display of an electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet computer. The number of displays 160 may be one or more. For example, the display 160 may include a main screen and a touch screen, with the main screen primarily used to display ultrasound images and the touch screen primarily used for human-computer interaction.

[0065] Display 160 can display the ultrasound image obtained by processor 150. Furthermore, while displaying the ultrasound image, display 160 can also provide a user with a graphical interface for human-computer interaction. One or more controlled objects can be set on the graphical interface, allowing the user to input operating instructions using a human-computer interaction device to control these controlled objects and thereby perform corresponding control operations. For example, icons can be displayed on the graphical interface, and the human-computer interaction device can be used to operate these icons to perform specific functions, such as drawing a region of interest box for transient elasticity measurement on the ultrasound image, selecting the number of repetitions for multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, etc.

[0066] Optionally, the ultrasound imaging system 100 may further include other human-computer interaction devices in addition to the display 160, which are connected to the processor 150. For example, the processor 150 may be connected to the human-computer interaction device via an external input / output port. The external input / output port may be a wireless communication module, a wired communication module, or a combination of the two. The external input / output port may also be implemented based on USB, a bus protocol such as CAN, and / or a wired network protocol.

[0067] The human-computer interaction device may include an input device for detecting user input information. The input information may be, for example, a control instruction for the timing of ultrasonic transmission / reception, an operation input instruction for drawing a point, line, or frame on an ultrasonic image, or other instruction types. The input device may include one or a combination of a keyboard, a mouse, a scroll wheel, a trackball, a mobile input device (such as a mobile device with a touch screen display, a mobile phone, etc.), a multi-function knob, etc. The human-computer interaction device may also include an output device such as a printer.

[0068] The ultrasound imaging system 100 may further include a memory for storing instructions executed by the processor, storing received ultrasound echoes, storing ultrasound images, etc. The memory may be a flash memory card, a solid-state memory, a hard disk, etc. The memory may be a volatile memory and / or a non-volatile memory, a removable memory and / or a non-removable memory, etc.

[0069] It should be understood that Figure 1 The components included in the ultrasound imaging system 100 are merely illustrative, and the system may include more or fewer components, which is not limited in the present application.

[0070] The instantaneous elasticity measurement method and ultrasonic imaging system provided in the present application can be applied to the human body as well as to various animals, that is, the object to be measured can be the human body as well as various animals.

[0071] Below, we will refer to Figure 2 Describe a method for measuring transient elasticity according to an embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 It is a schematic flow chart of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 200 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0072] like Figure 2 As shown, the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 200 of the embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

[0073] In step S210, a start command for continuous multiple transient elasticity measurements is obtained, and continuous multiple transient elasticity measurements are started on a target area of ​​the object under test, wherein each transient elasticity measurement includes: applying mechanical vibration to the object under test to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object under test; controlling an ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals.

[0074] In step S220, during the multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements, the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object under test is measured in real time;

[0075] In step S230 , the pressure status is prompted before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, and the pressure status is used to guide the user to adjust the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object being measured.

[0076] The transient elasticity measurement method 200 of the embodiment of the present application measures the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object to be measured in real time during multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, and prompts the status of the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object to be measured before each transient elasticity measurement, so as to facilitate the user to adjust the pressure.

[0077] Exemplarily, in step S210, the start command for continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements input by the user can be obtained through the human-machine interaction devices such as keys, buttons, and switches of the ultrasound imaging system to start continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements of the target area of ​​the object under test; through the continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurement process, the user can obtain the measurement results of multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements with one operation.

[0078] In multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, each transient elasticity measurement process includes at least mechanical vibration control and ultrasonic emission / reception control. Mechanical vibration control is to control the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; ultrasonic emission / reception control is to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves that track the shear waves to the target area and receive ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals. The starting time of the mechanical vibration and the starting time of the ultrasonic emission / reception can be the same or different, but after the mechanical vibration ends, the emission and reception of the ultrasonic waves still need to continue for a period of time to detect tissue movement information caused by the propagation of the shear waves in the tissue.

[0079] For example, see Figure 3 Mechanical vibration is initiated after the ultrasonic transmission / reception sequence begins t1. After the mechanical vibration ends, the ultrasonic transmission / reception sequence continues for t2. Between two consecutive transient elasticity measurements, the second transient elasticity measurement begins after the previous one ends, followed by a delay of t3.

[0080] For each instantaneous elasticity measurement, after the mechanical vibration of the ultrasonic probe and the emission and reception of ultrasonic waves are completed, the processor of the ultrasonic imaging system can perform signal processing of the instantaneous elasticity measurement on the ultrasonic echo signal, thereby obtaining the instantaneous elasticity measurement result of the target area based on the ultrasonic echo signal. Specifically, the processor can calculate the displacement of a certain point on the shear wave propagation path based on the received ultrasonic echo signal. When the displacement of the point is the largest, it is considered that the shear wave has reached the point. The propagation path or propagation trajectory of the shear wave can be located by the time the shear wave arrives at each point, so that a shear wave trajectory diagram can be drawn. The slope of each point on the shear wave propagation path can be obtained according to the trajectory line of the shear wave, and the slope is the shear wave velocity. According to the relationship between the shear wave velocity and Young's modulus and shear modulus, after obtaining the shear wave velocity, other elasticity measurements can be further calculated, such as Young's modulus, shear modulus, etc. For isotropic soft tissue, Young's modulus can be calculated according to the following formula: E=ρCs 2 , where E is Young's modulus, ρ is tissue density, and Cs is shear wave velocity.

[0081] For multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, the above-mentioned mechanical vibration of the ultrasonic probe and the emission and reception of ultrasonic waves are repeated after each interval time. For example, in multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, the number of repetitions of the transient elasticity measurement can be a fixed number pre-set by the ultrasonic imaging system, or a number specified by the user. For example, the user can specify to perform transient elasticity measurements 5 times, 10 times, etc. continuously. When all repetitions are completed, the transient elasticity measurement process ends. The ultrasonic imaging system can statistically analyze the transient elasticity results obtained from multiple repeated measurements, calculate the median, interquartile range and other parameters of all transient elasticity measurement results as the final transient elasticity measurement result, thereby improving the accuracy of the transient elasticity measurement.

[0082] Optionally, in a series of instantaneous elasticity measurements, the interval time between two adjacent instantaneous elasticity measurements (i.e. Figure 3 The time t3) in the figure can be set by the ultrasound imaging system or specified by the user, for example, by providing a user with a selectable range. For users with stable operating techniques, a relatively short interval time can be used to speed up the entire process of continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements. For users with unstable operating techniques, a relatively long interval time can be used to improve the stability of the ultrasound probe grip.

[0083] Furthermore, to ensure a stable and effective measurement, the subject is often asked to cooperate, such as maintaining a stable body or temporarily holding their breath. Therefore, the interval between two consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements can also take the subject's cooperation into consideration. For example, if the subject has difficulty maintaining a stable body for a long period of time, a shorter interval can be used.

[0084] In step S220, the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object is measured in real time during the multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements. According to the transient elasticity measurement method 200 of this embodiment of the present invention, in addition to measuring and displaying the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object before the multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object is also measured in real time during the multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, allowing the user to adjust the pressure during the transient elasticity measurements.

[0085] The period of continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements may include at least one of the following: the interval between two consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements, the period of mechanical vibration, and the period of controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves and receive ultrasonic echoes. Furthermore, the pressure measurement process may be performed continuously throughout the entire continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurement process, i.e., from the acquisition of the initiation command for the continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements to the completion of the last instantaneous elasticity measurement, the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the measured object is continuously measured in real time, and the measured pressure may be displayed in real time on a display interface.

[0086] For example, the pressure state can be measured by a pressure sensing module in the ultrasonic probe. The pressure sensing module measures the pressure of the ultrasonic probe in contact with the object being measured in real time during multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements and can store the collected pressure data for further calculation and analysis. The pressure sensing module can include a pressure sensor, an accelerometer, a displacement sensor, etc., as long as it can provide feedback on the degree of pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object being measured. The output signal of the pressure sensing module can be amplified, converted into analog to digital, and other processing to obtain pressure data representing the pressure state.

[0087] In step S230, the state of the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object being measured is prompted before each instantaneous elasticity measurement. The prompted pressure state can be used to guide the user to adjust the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object being measured. For instantaneous elasticity measurement, too little pressure can easily cause the ultrasonic probe to slip, and too much pressure can easily cause the amplitude of the mechanical vibration to be too small. Therefore, the user needs to adjust the degree of pressure of the ultrasonic probe to select an appropriate pressure. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user can adjust the degree of pressure of the ultrasonic probe according to the prompted pressure state to ensure that the pressure of each instantaneous elasticity measurement is appropriate or close to each other, thereby improving the validity of the results of multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements.

[0088] Exemplarily, the pressure status indicated includes at least one of the following: a pressure value, a pressure score, and a pressure gear. Specifically, the pressure value can be directly displayed on the display interface, so as to more accurately indicate the magnitude of the pressure. The magnitude of the pressure can also be converted into a score, such as a score between 0-100 or a score between 0-1, and then displayed on the display interface. The higher the score, the greater the pressure, and the lower the score, the less pressure. Compared with directly indicating the pressure value, it can make it easier for users to judge the current pressure state. Alternatively, the pressure size can be divided into several gears, and the number of pressure gears can be displayed. For example, the pressure value can be compared with one or more pre-set thresholds. If a certain threshold is exceeded, the pressure gear is increased by one gear, and the higher the number of gears, the greater the pressure.

[0089] In one embodiment, indicating the pressure status before each transient elasticity measurement includes providing real-time indication of the pressure status during the interval between two consecutive transient elasticity measurements. Specifically, after each transient elasticity measurement ends and before the next transient elasticity measurement begins, the pressure status can be monitored and provided to the user in real time. For example, the pressure status can be displayed in real time on a display interface, allowing the user to adjust the pressure of the ultrasound probe based on pressure feedback.

[0090] As an implementation method, the pressure state can be indicated in the form of a graphic before each instantaneous elasticity measurement. Specifically, a graphic indicating the pressure state can be displayed before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, and the graphic changes in real time as the pressure state changes. Figure 4A , which shows an exemplary graph representing the pressure state. The five blocks of the graph correspond to the five pressure levels. The uncolored blocks indicate that the pressure has not reached the corresponding level. The number of colored blocks indicates the number of pressure levels. The higher the pressure, the more colored blocks there are. Figure 4A In the figure, the three graphics from left to right respectively represent the current pressure status as level 1, level 4, and level 5.

[0091] Furthermore, when the pressure status meets the preset requirements, the graphic can be displayed in a first form; when the pressure status does not meet the preset requirements, the graphic can be displayed in a second form, so that the user can quickly determine whether the pressure status meets the preset requirements based on the graphic form. The first form and the second form can be different colors, patterns, shapes, etc.

[0092] Continue to see Figure 4A When the pressure status meets the preset requirements, for example, the pressure is within the preset range or the pressure is at the preset level, the graphic representing the pressure status can be displayed in green; on the contrary, if the pressure status does not meet the preset requirements, the graphic representing the pressure status can be displayed in yellow. Based on the color of the graphic, the user can intuitively judge whether the current pressure status meets the preset requirements. Figure 4A In the figure, the middle graphic represents that the current pressure state is level four (appropriate pressure), which meets the preset requirements, so the first four blocks of the middle graphic can be displayed in green; the graphics on the left and right respectively represent that the current pressure is level one (low pressure) and level five (high pressure), which do not meet the preset requirements, so the first block of the graphic on the left and all the blocks of the graphic on the right can be displayed in yellow. Of course, other colors can also be used for representation. For example, the state where the pressure is level one can be represented as yellow, and the state where the pressure is level five can be represented as red. This application does not limit the color setting. It is understandable that the color can change with the current pressure state, for example, from green to yellow, or from yellow to green.

[0093] Of course, the graphics representing the pressure state are not limited to Figure 4A In other embodiments, the graphic may have other shapes and colors as long as it can represent the state of pressure. Optionally, a sound can be used to assist the user, for example, when the pressure state meets the preset requirements, a sound prompt information can be output.

[0094] In addition, after each instantaneous elasticity measurement is completed or after multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements are completed, the instantaneous elasticity measurement results of each instantaneous elasticity measurement and the pressure measurement results during each instantaneous elasticity measurement can also be displayed. The pressure measurement results during each instantaneous elasticity measurement can be statistical values ​​of the pressure within a preset time period before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, such as the average value, quartile value, etc. The pressure measurement results during each instantaneous elasticity measurement can also be the pressure measurement results during the vibration period or the ultrasonic emission and reception period. When browsing the measurement results of each instantaneous elasticity measurement, the user can view the pressure measurement results during the instantaneous elasticity measurement period to eliminate the instantaneous elasticity measurement results corresponding to the pressure measurement results that do not meet the preset requirements. The ultrasonic imaging system can pre-set the pressure threshold and prompt the user whether the pressure has reached the preset threshold when displaying the pressure measurement results, to assist the user in judging whether the pressure is appropriate.

[0095] The pressure measurement result includes at least one of the following: a pressure value, a pressure score, a pressure level, and a graphic indicating the pressure state. Figure 4A The difference in the form of the graphs described is that the graph displayed during the gap changes in real time with the pressure state, while the graph displayed accompanying the transient elasticity measurement result is a fixed static graph, and the pressure level corresponding to the graph is determined based on the statistical value of the pressure during each transient elasticity measurement.

[0096] For example, see Figure 4B , where the left side displays a B-type ultrasound image, in which a region of interest box for transient elasticity measurement is displayed; the right side of the B-type ultrasound image displays a shear wave propagation image, and the lower right side displays a curve and a table of the transient elasticity measurement results of each transient elasticity measurement in multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements. According to the marks in the curve and the table, it can be determined that the currently selected result is the measurement result of the eighth transient elasticity measurement. Accordingly, a graph representing the pressure state during the eighth transient elasticity measurement is displayed in the upper right side of the B-type ultrasound image. According to the graph, it can be determined that when the eighth transient elasticity measurement is performed, the pressure is at the fourth level, which meets the preset requirements; the statistical values ​​of the measurement results of multiple transient elasticity measurements are displayed below the B-type ultrasound image.

[0097] In one embodiment, after multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements are completed, the pressure measurement results during the multiple transient elasticity measurements may be compared to obtain a graph or parameter reflecting the stability of the pressure, and the graph or parameter may be output.

[0098] Specifically, for the i-th instantaneous elasticity measurement, the pressure data during the instantaneous elasticity measurement can be extracted from the collected pressure data, such as the pressure data during the mechanical vibration, or the pressure data during the mechanical vibration and aftershock, to obtain a curve showing the pressure changing over time. Taking a vibration drive signal with a cycle of 50 Hz as an example, the pressure data during the 20 ms mechanical vibration period can be directly taken, or the pressure data during the 20 ms long mechanical vibration and a short period of aftershock after the mechanical vibration (for example, 10 ms) can be taken to obtain a curve showing the pressure changing over time, so as to more accurately reflect the state of pressure. The length of the aftershock time can be pre-set by the ultrasonic imaging system or specified by the user. After multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements are completed, the curves or data of the pressure during the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements can be compared to obtain a graph or parameter reflecting the stability (or effectiveness) of the pressure. Among them, the parameters reflecting the stability (or effectiveness) of pressure include, for example, the mean square error of pressure; the parameters reflecting the stability (or effectiveness) of pressure are, for example, curves drawn based on the pressure data during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, such as Figure 5 The higher the mutual agreement and the smaller the difference between the pressure data or curves during multiple transient elasticity measurements, the better the stability of repeated measurements and the higher the validity.

[0099] In one embodiment, after multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements are completed, the pressure status between the ultrasonic probe and the object being measured during each transient elasticity measurement is displayed. The user can then evaluate the quality of the measurement results of the entire process of the multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements or determine the reliability of the measurement results based on the displayed pressure status. For example, if the pressure status of any of the 10 consecutive transient elasticity measurements is too low, too high, unqualified, or falls short of expectations, the reliability of the measurement result of that transient elasticity measurement is low. Conversely, if the pressure status is appropriate (e.g., the pressure value is within a set threshold range), the reliability of the measurement result of that transient elasticity measurement is high.

[0100] In one embodiment, before starting the continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, pressure information can also be collected and fed back in real time to facilitate the user to adjust the control force of the ultrasonic probe. When the start command for the continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements is obtained, the pressure data within the preset time period before the start command is obtained can be extracted, and the statistical value of the pressure within the preset time period can be calculated. If the statistical value of the pressure is not within the preset range, the start of the continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements is prohibited. Even if the user issues the start command for the continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, the instantaneous elasticity measurement process is not allowed to start, thereby improving the validity of the measurement results and avoiding invalid measurements under inappropriate pressure conditions. Of course, while prohibiting the start of the continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, a corresponding prompt can also be fed back to prompt the user to adjust the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object being measured.

[0101] In addition to determining whether to initiate multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements based on the statistical value of the pressure data before initiating them, during multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements, it is also possible to determine whether to terminate the measurement process based on the pressure status. Specifically, before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, if it is determined that the pressure status does not meet the preset requirements, the instantaneous elasticity measurement for that time is terminated. For example, before the i-th instantaneous elasticity measurement, if the pressure status does not meet the preset requirements, the i-th instantaneous elasticity measurement is terminated, and accordingly, a corresponding prompt can be fed back to prompt the user to adjust the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object being measured. Exemplarily, the pressure status meeting the preset requirements can include the statistical value of the pressure within a preset time period before the i-th instantaneous elasticity measurement being within a preset range, the real-time pressure always remaining within the preset range, the pressure level being at a preset level, etc.

[0102] Based on the above description, the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 200 of an embodiment of the present invention measures the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object to be measured in real time during multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements, and prompts the status of the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object to be measured before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, so as to facilitate the user to adjust the pressure.

[0103] The present application also provides an ultrasonic imaging system, which can be used to implement the above-mentioned transient elasticity measurement method 200. Figure 1 The ultrasound imaging system 100 includes an ultrasound probe 110, a transmitting / receiving circuit 120, and a processor 150. The ultrasound imaging system 100 may also include a reference Figure 1 For other components of the ultrasound imaging system 100, the description of each component can refer to the above. The following only describes the main functions of the ultrasound imaging system 100, and omits the details already described above.

[0104] Specifically, the ultrasonic probe 110 is used to apply mechanical vibration to the object to be measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object to be measured; the transmitting / receiving circuit 120 is used to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves that track the shear waves to the target area and receive ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; the processor 150 is used to obtain a transient elasticity measurement result of the target area based on the ultrasonic echo signals; the processor 150 is also used to execute the steps of the transient elasticity measurement method 200, namely:

[0105] Obtaining a start command for multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements, and starting multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements of a target area of ​​the object under test, wherein each instantaneous elasticity measurement includes: applying mechanical vibration to the object under test to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object under test; controlling an ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves toward the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining instantaneous elasticity measurement results of the target area based on the ultrasonic echo signals;

[0106] During multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurements, the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object being measured is measured in real time;

[0107] The pressure status is prompted before each instantaneous elasticity measurement. The pressure status is used to guide the user to adjust the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object being measured.

[0108] In one embodiment, the stress status includes at least one of the following: a stress value, a stress score, and a stress level.

[0109] In one embodiment, the multiple consecutive transient elasticity measurement periods include at least one of the following: a gap period between two adjacent transient elasticity measurements, a period during which mechanical vibration occurs, and a period during which the ultrasonic probe is controlled to transmit ultrasonic waves and receive ultrasonic echoes.

[0110] In one embodiment, prompting the pressure status before each instantaneous elasticity measurement includes prompting the pressure status in real time during the interval between two adjacent instantaneous elasticity measurements.

[0111] In one embodiment, prompting the pressure state before each instantaneous elasticity measurement includes: displaying a graph representing the pressure state before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, wherein the graph changes in real time as the pressure state changes.

[0112] In one embodiment, when the pressure state meets the preset requirement, the graphic is displayed in a first form; when the pressure state does not meet the preset requirement, the graphic is displayed in a second form.

[0113] In one embodiment, the processor 150 is further configured to display a transient elasticity measurement result of each transient elasticity measurement and a pressure measurement result during each transient elasticity measurement.

[0114] In one embodiment, the pressure measurement result during each instantaneous elasticity measurement includes: a statistical value of the pressure within a preset time period before each instantaneous elasticity measurement.

[0115] In one embodiment, displaying the pressure measurement result includes at least one of the following: displaying a pressure value, displaying a pressure score, displaying a pressure level, and displaying a graphic representing a pressure state.

[0116] In one embodiment, the processor 150 is further configured to compare pressure measurement results during multiple transient elasticity measurements to obtain a graph or parameter reflecting the stability of the pressure, and output the graph or parameter.

[0117] In one embodiment, the processor 150 is further configured to: before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, if it is determined that the pressure state does not meet a preset requirement, stop the instantaneous elasticity measurement.

[0118] In one embodiment, the period of multiple continuous instantaneous elasticity measurements includes a preset time period before obtaining the start command; the processor 150 is also used to: when obtaining the start command, calculate the statistical value of the pressure within the preset time period, and if the statistical value is not within the preset range, prohibiting the start of multiple continuous instantaneous elasticity measurements.

[0119] In one embodiment, the processor 150 is further configured to: prompt a pressure status after multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, wherein the pressure status is used to guide the user to determine the reliability of the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements.

[0120] For other specific details of the ultrasonic imaging system according to the embodiment of the present invention, reference may be made to the above description of the transient elasticity measurement method 200 , which will not be elaborated here.

[0121] Based on the above description, the ultrasound imaging system of the embodiment of the present application measures the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object being measured in real time during multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements, and prompts the status of the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object being measured before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, so as to facilitate the user to adjust the pressure.

[0122] Below, we will refer to Figure 6 Describe the transient elasticity measurement method according to another embodiment of the present application, Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a method 600 for measuring instantaneous elasticity according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 As shown, the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 600 includes the following steps:

[0123] In step S610, a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements is obtained, and multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements are started on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each transient elasticity measurement includes: outputting a driving signal to an ultrasonic probe to drive the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals.

[0124] In step S620, during the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the measured object is measured in real time;

[0125] In step S630, the intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, so that the difference between the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements and the reference vibration amplitude is within a preset range.

[0126] like Figure 7 As shown, under different pressures, driving signals of equal intensity may result in mechanical vibrations of different amplitudes. The purpose of mechanical vibration is to generate shear waves to transmit into tissues. The transient elasticity measurement process is based on shear waves. The amplitude of mechanical vibration affects the intensity, propagation depth, propagation quality, etc. of the signal source, and then affects the final measurement result. Therefore, the transient elasticity measurement method 600 of the embodiment of the present invention adjusts the intensity of the driving signal during the i-th transient elasticity measurement process according to the pressure before the i-th mechanical vibration occurs, and ultimately ensures that the amplitude of the actual mechanical vibration of each transient elasticity measurement is as close as possible to the reference vibration amplitude. In one embodiment, the reference vibration amplitude can be pre-set through empirical data, or a more appropriate vibration amplitude can be determined in the above-mentioned multiple transient elasticity measurements, for example, the vibration amplitude corresponding to the first or second transient elasticity measurement is used as the reference vibration amplitude for subsequent transient elasticity measurements.

[0127] The pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement may be a statistical value, such as an average value, of the pressure within a preset time period before the instantaneous elasticity measurement. Specifically, the pressure within the preset time period before the instantaneous elasticity measurement may be a preset time period before the initiation of mechanical vibration during the instantaneous elasticity measurement, such as 100ms-200ms before the mechanical vibration. During the preset time period before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, the vibration sensing module in the ultrasonic probe collects pressure data between the ultrasonic probe and the measured object in real time, and the processor determines the intensity of the driving signal for the mechanical vibration during the instantaneous elasticity measurement based on the statistical value of the pressure within the preset time period.

[0128] In one embodiment, the intensity of the drive signal can be adjusted in steps, i.e., the intensity of the drive signal can be adjusted in steps based on the pressure level before the instantaneous elasticity measurement. Specifically, the pressure level before the instantaneous elasticity measurement is determined, and the intensity of the drive signal is adjusted to a preset intensity corresponding to the level. The preset intensity is determined based on the reference vibration amplitude.

[0129] For example, assume that under the reference pressure thre0, the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration generated by the drive signal A is mag0, and this vibration amplitude is the reference vibration amplitude. Taking the case where the pressure is divided into two levels as an example, if the pressure Pressure-before before the current instantaneous elasticity measurement satisfies: thre0 < Pressure-before <= thre1 (i.e., the pressure is too high), and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration generated by the drive signal A is mag1, then the intensity of the drive signal is adjusted to B = A * mag0 / mag1; if thre2 <= Pressure-before < thre0 (i.e., the pressure is too low), and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration generated by the drive signal A is mag2, then the intensity of the drive signal is adjusted to B = A * mag0 / mag2.

[0130] Of course, the number of pressure levels is not limited to two. Two or more pressure levels can be preset in advance, and the intensity of the drive signal that makes the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration close to the reference vibration amplitude under each level is determined in advance. Thus, after determining the level corresponding to the pressure before the current instantaneous elasticity measurement, the intensity of the drive signal is adjusted to the preset intensity corresponding to this level.

[0131] In another embodiment, the adjustment of the intensity of the drive signal can be continuous, that is, the intensity of the drive signal is continuously adjusted according to the corresponding relationship between the intensity of the drive signal and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration under different pressures. Specifically, a relationship curve between the intensity of the drive signal and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration under different pressures established in advance can be obtained based on experience. After obtaining the pressure within a preset time period before the current instantaneous elasticity measurement, in the relationship curve corresponding to the pressure before the current instantaneous elasticity measurement, the intensity of the drive signal corresponding to the reference vibration amplitude is determined, and the intensity of the drive signal during the current instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted to the intensity of the drive signal corresponding to the reference vibration amplitude, so as to maintain the vibration amplitude of the current instantaneous elasticity measurement as the same as or close to the reference vibration amplitude as much as possible, thereby ensuring the stability of the signal source for continuous multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements.

[0132] In addition, steps S610 and S620 of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 600 are basically the same as steps S210 and S220 in the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 200. For specific details, reference can be made to the relevant descriptions above. For the sake of brevity, the same details are not repeated here.

[0133] An instantaneous elasticity measurement method according to another embodiment of the present application, the method includes the following steps:

[0134] Obtaining a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each transient elasticity measurement comprises: outputting a driving signal to an ultrasonic probe to drive the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals;

[0135] During the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, measuring the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object in real time;

[0136] The intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, so that the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurement processes remains consistent.

[0137] This embodiment is similar to the aforementioned Figure 6 The difference between the illustrated embodiments is that the present embodiment ensures that the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements remains consistent, and does not limit the manner of setting the reference vibration amplitude. For example, consistency can be maintained by setting the reference vibration amplitude, or it can be adaptively adjusted to maintain consistency during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements. The consistency mentioned in the present application can be understood as basic consistency, that is, consistency within a reasonable error range. In addition to this, the other steps are basically the same. For details, please refer to the relevant description above. For the sake of brevity, the same details will not be repeated here.

[0138] Another embodiment of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method of the present application includes the following steps:

[0139] Obtaining a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each transient elasticity measurement comprises: outputting a driving signal to an ultrasonic probe to drive the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals;

[0140] During the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, measuring the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object in real time;

[0141] After the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, the pressure status is prompted, and the pressure status is used to guide the user to determine the reliability of the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements.

[0142] This embodiment is similar to the aforementioned Figure 2 The difference with the illustrated embodiment is that this embodiment does not consider whether the pressure status is displayed before each instantaneous elasticity measurement. Instead, the pressure status is displayed after multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, and this pressure status is used to guide the user in determining the reliability of the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements. Other than this, the other steps are basically the same. For details, please refer to the relevant description above. For the sake of brevity, the same details are not repeated here.

[0143] It should be noted that in this embodiment, after the multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements are completed, the state of the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object being measured during each subsequent instantaneous elasticity measurement can be prompted. The user can evaluate the quality of the measurement results of the entire process of the multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements or judge the credibility of the measurement results based on the prompted pressure state. For example, for 10 consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements, if the pressure state of one of them is too small, too large, unqualified, or does not meet expectations, it means that the credibility of the measurement result of this instantaneous elasticity measurement is low; on the contrary, if the pressure state is appropriate (for example, the pressure value is within the set threshold range), it means that the credibility of the measurement result of this instantaneous elasticity measurement is high. The user can understand the credibility of the measurement result based on the pressure state of multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, and thus decide whether to re-measure or adopt the current measurement result.

[0144] The present application also provides an ultrasonic imaging system, which can be used to implement the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 600. Figure 1 The ultrasound imaging system 100 includes an ultrasound probe 110, a transmitting / receiving circuit 120, and a processor 150. The ultrasound imaging system 100 may also include a reference Figure 1 For other components of the ultrasound imaging system 100, the description of each component can refer to the above. The following only describes the main functions of the ultrasound imaging system 100, and omits the details already described above.

[0145] Specifically, the ultrasonic probe 110 is used to apply mechanical vibration to the object to be measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object to be measured; the transmitting / receiving circuit 120 is used to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves that track the shear waves to the target area and receive ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; the processor 150 is used to obtain a transient elasticity measurement result of the target area based on the ultrasonic echo signals; the processor 150 is also used to execute the steps of the transient elasticity measurement method 600, namely:

[0146] Obtaining a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, each transient elasticity measurement comprising: outputting a drive signal to the ultrasonic probe, driving the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves within the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area based on the ultrasonic echo signals;

[0147] During multiple transient elastic measurements, the pressure between the ultrasound probe and the object being measured is measured in real time;

[0148] The intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, so that the difference between the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements and the reference vibration amplitude is within a preset range.

[0149] In one embodiment, the pressure before the next instantaneous elasticity measurement includes a statistical value of the pressure within a preset time period before the next instantaneous elasticity measurement.

[0150] In one embodiment, the intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, including: adjusting the intensity of the driving signal in different gears according to the gear corresponding to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, or continuously adjusting the intensity of the driving signal according to the correspondence between the intensity of the driving signal and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration under different pressures.

[0151] In one embodiment, the intensity of the driving signal is adjusted in different gears according to the gear corresponding to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, including: determining the gear corresponding to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, and adjusting the intensity of the driving signal to a preset intensity corresponding to the gear, where the preset intensity is determined based on the reference vibration amplitude.

[0152] In one embodiment, the intensity of the driving signal is continuously adjusted according to the corresponding relationship between the intensity of the driving signal and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration under different pressures, including: obtaining a pre-established relationship curve between the intensity of the driving signal and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration under different pressures; determining the intensity of the driving signal corresponding to the reference vibration amplitude in the relationship curve corresponding to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, and adjusting the intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement to the intensity of the driving signal corresponding to the reference vibration amplitude.

[0153] Based on the above description, according to the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 600 and the ultrasonic imaging system of the embodiment of the present application, during multiple consecutive instantaneous elasticity measurements, the intensity of the driving signal during the current instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before each instantaneous elasticity measurement, so that the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements is close to the reference vibration amplitude.

[0154] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present application, a computer storage medium is further provided, on which program instructions are stored, and when the program instructions are executed by a computer or a processor, the corresponding steps of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 200 or the instantaneous elasticity measurement method 600 of the embodiment of the present application are executed. The storage medium may include, for example, a memory card of a smart phone, a storage component of a tablet computer, a hard disk of a personal computer, a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a USB memory, or any combination of the above storage media. The computer-readable storage medium may be any combination of one or more computer-readable storage media.

[0155] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present application, a computer program is also provided, which can be stored on a cloud or local storage medium. When the computer program is executed by a computer or processor, it is used to perform the corresponding steps of the instantaneous elasticity measurement method of the embodiment of the present application.

[0156] Although example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the above example embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Various changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present application. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present application as required by the appended claims.

[0157] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0158] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units described is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used, such as combining or integrating multiple units or components into another device, or ignoring or not performing some features.

[0159] In the description provided herein, a large number of specific details are described. However, it is understood that the embodiments of the present application can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures, and techniques are not shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.

[0160] Similarly, it should be understood that in order to streamline the present application and aid in understanding one or more of the various inventive aspects, in the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present application, the various features of the present application are sometimes grouped together into a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, this approach of the present application should not be interpreted as reflecting the intention that the application claimed for protection requires more features than those explicitly recited in each claim. More precisely, as reflected in the corresponding claims, the inventive point is that the corresponding technical problem can be solved with fewer features than all the features of a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim itself serving as a separate embodiment of the present application.

[0161] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, except where mutually exclusive, all features disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) and all processes or units of any method or apparatus disclosed herein may be combined in any combination. Unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by an alternative feature providing the same, equivalent, or similar purpose.

[0162] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that although some embodiments described herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not other features, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this application and to form different embodiments. For example, in the claims, any of the claimed embodiments may be used in any combination.

[0163] The various component embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware, or in a software module running on one or more processors, or in a combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) can be used in practice to implement some or all of the functions of some modules according to the embodiments of the present application. The application can also be implemented as a part or all of a device program (e.g., a computer program and a computer program product) for performing the method described herein. Such a program implementing the present application can be stored on a computer-readable medium, or can have the form of one or more signals. Such a signal can be downloaded from an Internet website, or provided on a carrier signal, or provided in any other form.

[0164] It should be noted that the above embodiments illustrate rather than limit the present application, and that those skilled in the art may devise alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference symbols placed between brackets should not be construed as limiting the claims. The present application may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several different elements and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In a unit claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by the same item of hardware. The use of the words first, second, and third, etc. does not indicate any order. These words may be interpreted as names.

[0165] The above description is merely a specific embodiment or illustration of a specific embodiment of the present application, and the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. The scope of protection of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for measuring instantaneous elasticity, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each transient elasticity measurement comprises: outputting a driving signal to an ultrasonic probe to drive the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals; During the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, measuring the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object in real time; The intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, so that the difference between the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements and the reference vibration amplitude is within a preset range.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement includes a statistical value of the pressure within a preset time period before the instantaneous elasticity measurement.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The adjusting the intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement includes: The intensity of the driving signal is adjusted in different gears according to the gear corresponding to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, or, The intensity of the driving signal is adjusted according to the corresponding relationship between the intensity of the driving signal and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration under different pressures.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The adjusting the intensity of the driving signal in different gears according to the gear corresponding to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement includes: The gear position corresponding to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement is determined, and the intensity of the driving signal is adjusted to a preset intensity corresponding to the gear position, where the preset intensity is determined according to the reference vibration amplitude.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The adjusting the intensity of the driving signal according to the corresponding relationship between the intensity of the driving signal and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration under different pressures includes: Obtaining a pre-established relationship curve between the intensity of the driving signal and the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration under different pressures; In the relationship curve corresponding to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, the driving signal strength corresponding to the reference vibration amplitude is determined, and the strength of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted to the driving signal strength corresponding to the reference vibration amplitude.

6. A method for measuring instantaneous elasticity, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining a start command for multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements, and starting multiple continuous transient elasticity measurements on a target area of ​​the object being measured, wherein each transient elasticity measurement comprises: outputting a driving signal to an ultrasonic probe to drive the ultrasonic probe to apply mechanical vibration to the object being measured to generate shear waves in the target area of ​​the object being measured; controlling the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear waves to the target area, and receiving ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; and obtaining transient elasticity measurement results of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signals; During the multiple instantaneous elasticity measurements, measuring the pressure between the ultrasonic probe and the object in real time; The intensity of the driving signal during the instantaneous elasticity measurement is adjusted according to the pressure before the instantaneous elasticity measurement, so that the vibration amplitude of the mechanical vibration during multiple instantaneous elasticity measurement processes remains consistent.

7. An ultrasonic imaging system, characterized in that: The ultrasound imaging system comprises: an ultrasonic probe for applying mechanical vibration to a measured object to generate shear waves in a target area of ​​the measured object; a transmitting / receiving circuit, configured to control the ultrasonic probe to transmit ultrasonic waves tracking the shear wave toward the target area, and to receive ultrasonic echoes from the target area to obtain ultrasonic echo signals; a processor, configured to obtain a transient elasticity measurement result of the target area according to the ultrasonic echo signal; The processor is further configured to execute the steps of the transient elasticity measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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