3D Elasticity Ultrasound Motion Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elasticity imaging is susceptible to motion artifacts due to sources other than compression or stress, leading to low quality and biased results, especially in two-dimensional imaging, as it fails to account for out-of-plane motion effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of three-dimensional elasticity imaging that uses anatomical information to identify and correct for undesired motion, by classifying and tracking anatomical landmarks to subtract or suppress motion caused by factors other than stress, thereby improving the accuracy of elasticity estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two-dimensional elasticity imaging with motion correction is used, then some undesired distortions are removed, but out-of-plane motion is not addressed and quality remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional to three-dimensional elasticity imaging to address out-of-plane motion artifacts. By acquiring and processing echo data in three dimensions, the system can track and correct motion in all spatial directions, not just in-plane motion, thereby improving measurement accuracy while managing the increased complexity through systematic data processing
2Ease of operation
If traditional elasticity imaging is performed without motion correction, then the imaging process is simpler, but motion artifacts from patient, transducer, and anatomy movement cause low quality and biased results
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary motion correction by tracking anatomical landmarks and estimating undesired motion before elasticity imaging is completed. By identifying and correcting motion artifacts in advance using landmark tracking and echo data analysis, the system improves reliability without significantly complicating the overall imaging workflow for the user
3Measurement precision
If anatomical landmark tracking is implemented to correct motion, then out-of-plane motion is addressed, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging volume into anatomical landmarks and non-landmark regions, processing each differently. By identifying specific landmark voxels and tracking their motion separately, then applying this motion correction to the entire volume, the system achieves accurate motion correction while managing processing complexity through divide-and-conquer strategies
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
AI summary
Three-dimensional elasticity imaging (36, 44) is provided. Motion in three-dimensions due to sources other than the stress or compression for elasticity imaging is found (34) from anatomical information. Objects less likely to be subject to the stress or compression and/or likely to be subject to undesired motion are used to find (34) the undesired motion. This anatomical motion is accounted (38) for in estimating (36) the elasticity, such as removing (40) the motion from echo data used to estimate elasticity or subtracting (42) out the motion from motion generated as part of estimating (36) elasticity.