50 results about "Shear wave imaging" patented technology

Disclosed are an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and an ultrasonic measurement method enabling easy acquisition of elasticity information by means of a shear wave. The ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus is provided with an ultrasonic probe (4) for transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic wave to / from a subject (5), a vibrator (3) for generating a shear wave, a transmitting / receiving unit (2, 6) for transmitting / receiving an ultrasonic wave to / from the ultrasonic probe (4), a shear wave propagation detecting unit (14) for determining the propagation position of the shear wave and the propagation time of the shear wave, a shear wave image constructing unit (16) for constructing a shear wave image showing the relation between the propagation position and propagation time of the shear wave, and an elasticity information computing unit (15); for computing elasticity information on the basis of the boundary of the shear wave image.

Methods and non-transitory computer readable media that store executable instructions to perform a method for reducing motion artifacts in shear wave measurements are presented. Accordingly, reference pulses are delivered to a common motion tracking location (CMTL) and a plurality of target locations in a region of interest (ROI) to detect corresponding initial positions. Further, a shear wave is generated and tracked in the ROI using tracking pulses delivered to the CMTL and the plurality of target locations for determining corresponding displacements. Additionally, an average displacement of the CMTL is computed. Further, a motion corrected displacement for a target location in the plurality of target locations is estimated based on a displacement of the target location at a particular time, a corresponding displacement of the CMTL measured proximate in time to the measurement of the displacement of the target location and the average displacement of the CMTL.

Methods and systems for displaying ultrasound images are provided. The method provides receiving a user input selecting a shear-wave mode for an ultrasound probe and obtaining shear-wave data of a region of interest (ROI) acquired by the ultrasound probe when in the shear-wave mode. The method further includes receiving a user input selecting a strain mode for the ultrasound probe and obtaining strain data of the ROI acquired by the ultrasound probe when in the strain mode. The method also includes generating an image of the shear-wave data and an image of the strain data and receiving a user input to display the shear-wave image and the strain image. Further, the method provides displaying the shear-wave image and the strain image concurrently.

A medium of interest is interrogated according to ultrasound elastography imaging. A preliminary elasticity-spatial-map is formed. This map is calibrated against a reference elasticity-spatial-map that comprises an array (232) of different (240) elasticity values. The reference map is formed to be reflective of ultrasonic shear wave imaging of a reference medium. The reference medium is not, nor located at, the medium of interest, and may be homogeneous. Shear waves that are propagating in a medium are tracked by interrogating the medium. From tracking locations on opposite sides of an ablated-tissue border, propagation delay of a shear wave in the medium and of another shear wave are measured. The two shear waves result from respectively different pushes (128) that are separately issued. A processor decides, based on a function of the two delays, that the border crosses between the two locations. The calibrated map is dynamically updated and may include post-ablation border expansion (346) and time-annotated previous stages (344, 348).

The invention relates to a focused ultrosound therapy combined array element phased array and multifocal shear wave imaging system for focused ultrosound non-invasive surgical therapy, belonging to the technical field of biomedical instrument, in particular to a combined array element phased array transducer used for multifocal focused ultrosound therapy and radial force excitation imaging and also relates to a multifocal plane shear wave imaging system by using the combined array element phased array transducer. In the transducer, the combined array element is formed by compactly placing 2*2 or 3*3 basic matrix array elements in rows according to spherical rectangle mode, all basic matrix array elements in each combined array element are in parallel electrically and share one power driven channel; a basic matrix array element distance is left between the centers of two adjacent combined array elements along at least one direction, and each combined array element is matched with the phase and amplitude of one power driven channel so as to significantly expand the focal scanning area.

The invention discloses a soft tissue superelasticity characteristic representation method. The method comprises the following steps: on the basis of ultrasonic radiation force shear wave imaging technology, detecting the wave velocity of a shear wave spread in a target tissue under the press-in depth of a probe, and besides an elongation ratio lambda which is used for balancing deformation in a press-in direction, introducing a parameter xi to describe a deformation state in the transverse direction; and finally, introducing the detected parameters into an inversion formula so as to obtain superelasticity characteristic parameters of the target tissue.

A method for performing shear wave elastography imaging of an observation field in a medium, the method including shear wave imaging steps to acquire sets of shear wave propagation parameters, the method further including a reliability indicator determining step during which a reliability indicator of the shear wave elastography imaging of the observation field is determined.

This shear wave imaging method, for collecting information on a target region (R) of a soft solid (S), comprises at fi least the steps a) of generating at least one shear wave (SW) in the target region, and b) of detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave in the target region. Step a) is realized by applying to particles of the target region (R) some Lorentz forces resulting from an electric field (E) and from a magnetic field (B). At least one of the electric field (E) and the magnetic field (B) is variable in time, with a central frequency (fo) between 1 Hz and 10 kHz. Alternatively, both the electric and magnetic fields (E, B) are variable in time, with a central difference frequency (Δfo) between 1 Hz and 10 kHz. The shear wave imaging installation comprises a first system (4, 7) for generating at least one shear wave (SW) in the target region (R) and a second system (10) for detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave. The first system includes first means (4) to apply an electric field (E) through the target region (R) and second means (7) to apply a magnetic field (B) through the target region. The first and second means are configured to apply to particles of the target region some Lorentz forces resulting from the electric field (E) and the magnetic field (B), where at least one of these fields is a quantity variable in time, with a central frequency (fo) between 1 Hz and 10 kHz, or both fields are quantities variable in time, with a central difference frequency (Δfo) between 1 Hz and 10 kHz.

The invention discloses an ultrasonic omics depth analysis method and system based on shear wave elastic imaging, and the method comprises the steps: obtaining a standardized shear wave elastic imagethrough the ultrasonic medical acoustic experience for different diseases; aiming at the corresponding disease model, utilizing the shear wave image to obtain corresponding elastic ultrasonic omics data of the organ; inputting the elastic ultrasonic omics data into a trained deep learning network, adjusting the connection weight, proportion convolution and pooling layer of neurons according to theelastic ultrasonic omics data to obtain adjusted elastic ultrasonic omics data, and obtaining the classification score of each lesion through deep learning; based on patient clinical information andexamination indexes, results are subjected to deep learning elastic classification scoring, and a deep analysis decision system is constructed through machine learning analysis. According to the invention, the repeatability of boundary data acquisition and the adaptability of image analysis can be improved, and a deep analysis decision system is constructed to improve the accuracy of an auxiliaryanalysis result.

A method for imaging an object by ultrasound elastography through continuous vibration of the ultrasound transducer is taught. An actuator directly in contact with the ultrasound transducer continuously vibrates the transducer in an axial direction, inducing shear waves in the tissue and allowing for real-time shear wave imaging. Axial motion of the transducer contaminates the shear wave images of the tissue, and must be suppressed. Therefore, several methods for correcting for shear wave artifact caused by the motion of the transducer are additionally taught.

A method and system for automatic non-invasive estimation of shear modulus and viscosity of biological tissue from shear-wave imaging is disclosed. Shear-wave images are acquired to evaluate the mechanical properties of an organ of a patient. Shear-wave propagation in the tissue in the shear-wave images is simulated based on shear modulus and viscosity values for the tissue using a computational model of shear-wave propagation. The simulated shear-wave propagation is compared to observed shear-wave propagation in the shear-wave images of the tissue using a cost function. Patient-specific shear modulus and viscosity values for the tissue are estimated to optimize the cost function comparing the simulated shear-wave propagation to the observed shear-wave propagation.

The invention relates to visualization of related information in ultrasonic shear wave imaging. Information related shear calculation is also displayed (44) in the ultrasonic shear wave imaging (40). Information more than the shear wave imaging is provided for diagnoses. Information for determining the quality or variation of shear is also displayed (44). The additional information can help a user to determine whether the shear information indicates tissue features or unreliable shear calculation.

The embodiment of the application discloses a shear wave elasticity imaging method and system and a computer readable storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: controlling a probe to transmit ultrasonic waves to tested tissue; receiving an ultrasonic echo returned by the tested tissue, and controlling the probe to convert the ultrasonic echo to obtain an ultrasonic echo signal; acquiring a reference image of the tested tissue when the tested tissue is in the first state based on the ultrasonic echo signal; acquiring a comparison image of the tested tissue when the tested tissueis in a second state based on the ultrasonic echo signal in a shear wave imaging mode; determining the pressure state of the tested tissue relative to the probe when the tested tissue is in the second state according to the reference image and the comparison image; and controlling display of prompt information corresponding to the pressure state. According to the shear wave elasticity imaging method, the ultrasonic imaging system and the computer readable storage medium, the pressure state between the probe and the tested tissue is determined through the ultrasonic image, and the corresponding prompt information is output, so that a user can conveniently determine the accuracy of the obtained elasticity information of the tested tissue according to the prompt information.

The invention discloses a shearing wave image denoising method based on a cutoff window, which mainly solves the problem of large time complexity of a traditional shearing wave based on a first basis function algorithm and the problems of inflexible frequency band division and poor denoising effect of the traditional shearing wave based on a traditional Laplace pyramid algorithm, and comprises the following steps of: carrying out discrete Fourier transformation on a noisy image and the construction on a rectangular cutoff window or a round cutoff window; obtaining an approximate image through a rectangular central cutoff window or a round central cutoff window, carrying out direction division on the frequency bands of the rectangular cutoff window or the round cutoff window acting on the frequency domain of the noisy image by the shearing wave to obtain a coefficient matrix; afterwards carrying out hard threshold denoising on the coefficient matrix; and then reconstructing the denoised coefficient matrix and the approximate image by combining the rectangular cutoff window or the round cutoff window with the shearing wave to obtain the denoised image. The cutoff window constructed by the invention can obtain more ideal effect on image denoising and can be used for image analysis.

The invention provides a shear wave imaging method. The method comprises the following steps of: generating shear wave inside a tissue; pre-estimating the shear wave, sending a plurality of tracking pulses corresponding to positions of the shear wave at different moments, and receiving echo information of the tracking pulses; carrying out shear wave parameter calculation according to the echo information of the tracking pulses; and imaging and displaying the result of the shear wave parameter calculation. According to the shear wave imaging method and system provided by the invention, the detection positions of the shear wave is estimated in advance, so that the detection of the shear wave can be accurately carried out in a small range, the detection energy is relatively concentrated, andthe detection signal-to-noise ratio is improved. Meanwhile, the redundant detection times are reduced, the detection process is accelerated, and the data processing burden is reduced. The invention also provides a shear wave imaging system.

A method for imaging an object by ultrasound elastography through continuous vibration of the ultrasound transducer is taught. An actuator directly in contact with the ultrasound transducer continuously vibrates the transducer in an axial direction, inducing shear waves in the tissue and allowing for real-time shear wave imaging. Axial motion of the transducer contaminates the shear wave images of the tissue, and must be suppressed. Therefore, several methods for correcting for shear wave artifact caused by the motion of the transducer are additionally taught.

The invention discloses a shear wave elastic imaging method and a device, and the method comprises the following steps of: a target value of a target parameter is obtained; the target parameter is a parameter for shear wave imaging of a region of interest; the target value is a value matching the tissue characteristics of the region of interest; the current value of the target parameter is changedto be the target value; and, based on the target value of the target parameter, shear wave elastic imaging is performed on the region of interest. Through the embodiment of the present application, the image result obtained by shear wave image the region of interest according to the target value is more reliable.

The invention provides angles for ultrasound-based shear wave imaging. For shear wave imaging with ultrasound, a direction of the ARFI beam is selected based on tissue information 11, such as being perpendicular to an orientation of tissue or other than perpendicular to a face of the transducer array. As a result, the estimated shear wave velocity 16 measured perpendicular to the ARFI beam 14 maybe closer to actual shear wave velocity. Alternatively or additionally, one or more vectors 18 of propagation of the shear wave are determined and displayed to the user, allowing the user to visualizean extent of anisotropy of the tissue to judge impact on the shear wave velocity estimation.

An ultrasound imaging system for analyzing tissue stiffness by shear wave measurement comprises a matrix array probe which acquires shear wave velocity data from three planes of a volumetric region ofinterest. The velocity data is used to color-code pixels in the planes in accordance with their estimated tissue stiffness. The planes are displayed in their relative spatial orientation in an isometric or perspective display. The positions and orientations of the planes can be changed from the system user interface, enabling a clinician to view selected planes of stiffness information which intersect the region of interest.

Method for generating a shear wave in a target region of a soft solid, includes the following steps: a) generating at least two shear waves with a first and a second source of shear waves in the target region; b) detecting a propagation pattern of the shear wave in the target region with a detector unit including a row of ultrasonic transducers aligned on a first direction perpendicular to a detection direction of each or a single ultrasonic transducer movable along a first direction perpendicular to its detection direction; c) proceeding to a time reversal of the detected propagation pattern; and d) submitting the target region to an inverted excitation set of forces based on the temporally inverted propagation pattern. During step b), a first propagation pattern is detected when only the first source is active and a second propagation pattern is detected when only the second source is active.

An ultrasonic transducer array probe (10) for shear wave imaging has a number of transducer elements which exceeds the number of transmit channels of a shear wave diagnostic imaging system. The probeincludes a switch matrix or multiplexer (60) which selectively couples channels of the transmit beamformer (18) to the transducer elements of multiple shear wave apertures of the array. When the transmit beamformer is actuated, a plurality of push pulses are transmitted simultaneously to initiate shear waves in a subject.

The invention discloses a shearing wave image denoising method based on a cutoff window, which mainly solves the problem of large time complexity of a traditional shearing wave based on a first basis function algorithm and the problems of inflexible frequency band division and poor denoising effect of the traditional shearing wave based on a traditional Laplace pyramid algorithm, and comprises the following steps of: carrying out discrete Fourier transformation on a noisy image and the construction on a rectangular cutoff window or a round cutoff window; obtaining an approximate image througha rectangular central cutoff window or a round central cutoff window, carrying out direction division on the frequency bands of the rectangular cutoff window or the round cutoff window acting on the frequency domain of the noisy image by the shearing wave to obtain a coefficient matrix; afterwards carrying out hard threshold denoising on the coefficient matrix; and then reconstructing the denoised coefficient matrix and the approximate image by combining the rectangular cutoff window or the round cutoff window with the shearing wave to obtain the denoised image. The cutoff window constructed by the invention can obtain more ideal effect on image denoising and can be used for image analysis.

The present disclosure includes ultrasound systems and methods for smart shear wave elastography in anisotropic tissue. An example method may include identifying muscle fiber structures from a 3D ultrasound image dataset. The method may include providing a representation of at least one identified muscle fiber structure relative to a surface of a transducer. The method may include selecting at least one of the identified muscle fiber structures. The method may include determining a target measurement plane based on an orientation of the selected muscle fiber structure. The method may also include transmitting ultrasound pulses in accordance with a sequence configured to perform shear wave imaging in the target measurement plane.

For shear wave imaging with ultrasound, the apparent pulse repetition frequency is increased by combining (14) displacements from different lateral locations. Different combinations based on differentshear wave velocities and corresponding time shifts and / or attenuations and corresponding scalings are tested to find a smooth displacement profile for the combination. Once the smooth displacement profile is found, the corresponding shear wave velocity is estimated or determined (18).

Methods and systems for displaying ultrasound images are provided. The method provides receiving a user input selecting a shear-wave mode for an ultrasound probe and obtaining shear-wave data of a region of interest (ROI) acquired by the ultrasound probe when in the shear-wave mode. The method further includes receiving a user input selecting a strain mode for the ultrasound probe and obtaining strain data of the ROI acquired by the ultrasound probe when in the strain mode. The method also includes generating an image of the shear-wave data and an image of the strain data and receiving a user input to display the shear-wave image and the strain image. Further, the method provides displaying the shear-wave image and the strain image concurrently.

The invention relates to a focused ultrosound therapy combined array element phased array and multifocal shear wave imaging system for focused ultrosound non-invasive surgical therapy, belonging to the technical field of biomedical instrument, in particular to a combined array element phased array transducer used for multifocal focused ultrosound therapy and radial force excitation imaging and also relates to a multifocal plane shear wave imaging system by using the combined array element phased array transducer. In the transducer, the combined array element is formed by compactly placing 2*2or 3*3 basic matrix array elements in rows according to spherical rectangle mode, all basic matrix array elements in each combined array element are in parallel electrically and share one power driven channel; a basic matrix array element distance is left between the centers of two adjacent combined array elements along at least one direction, and each combined array element is matched with the phase and amplitude of one power driven channel so as to significantly expand the focal scanning area.

An ultrasound transducer array probe (10) for shear wave imaging has a number of transducer elements exceeding the number of transmit channels of a shear wave diagnostic imaging system. The probe includes a switch matrix or multiplexer (60) that selectively couples the channels of the transmit beamformer (18) to the transducer elements of the multiple shear wave apertures of the array. When the transmit beamformer is actuated, multiple push pulses are transmitted simultaneously to initiate shear waves in the subject.