Acoustic Radiation Force Interface for Elastography Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transient elastography methods face limitations in generating sufficient displacement amplitudes for accurate imaging of viscoelastic media without causing harm, particularly in biological tissues, due to constraints in power and synchronization of mechanical excitation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the generation of acoustic radiation force by focusing acoustic waves at an interface between zones of distinct acoustic properties within the viscoelastic medium, allowing for higher displacement amplitudes and improved imaging quality through the propagation of shear waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external mechanical stimulation is used to generate displacement in transient elastography, then displacement amplitude can reach 100 μm, but the device becomes bulky and synchronization with imaging becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the external mechanical stimulation system with an ultrasonic acoustic radiation force system. Instead of using a bulky external mechanical device to generate displacement, the invention uses focused ultrasonic waves to create acoustic radiation force within the tissue, which generates the necessary mechanical displacement for elastography. This substitution eliminates the need for external mechanical contact and reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If ultrasonic beam is focused within the medium to generate acoustic radiation force, then ease of handling and synchronization are improved, but displacement amplitude is limited by maximum acoustic power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interface layer (such as a membrane or coupling medium) as an intermediary between the ultrasonic transducer and the tissue medium. This interface serves as a mediator that concentrates and transfers the acoustic radiation force more efficiently to the tissue, thereby amplifying the displacement amplitude without requiring excessive acoustic power. The interface acts as a force concentrator that overcomes the power limitation while maintaining the ease of operation and synchronization benefits of ultrasonic stimulation.
3Measurement precision
If acoustic power is increased to generate higher displacement amplitude, then measurement precision improves, but thermal and mechanical damage to tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The interface layer acts as a mechanical amplifier that concentrates the acoustic radiation force, allowing higher displacement amplitudes to be generated with lower acoustic power. By using this intermediary to focus and amplify the force transmission, the system achieves the necessary measurement precision without increasing the acoustic power to levels that would cause thermal or mechanical damage to the tissue.
4Measurement precision
If mechanical excitation is localized to specific areas, then imaging quality in regions of interest improves, but the complexity of optimizing wave amplitude increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing the ultrasonic beam and the interface structure specifically at the region of interest within the tissue. The interface (membrane or coupling medium) is positioned and configured to concentrate the acoustic radiation force precisely where needed, creating localized mechanical excitation. This approach improves imaging quality in the target area while the focused nature of the ultrasonic beam inherently simplifies the optimization process compared to distributed excitation methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the quality of elastographic imaging by increasing displacement amplitudes to 100 μm, enabling better characterization of interfacial zones and monitoring of tissue elasticity during therapeutic treatments, while minimizing harm to the medium.
Implementation Method 1
generating an acoustic radiation force within the viscoelastic medium by applying acoustic waves focused on an interface delimiting two zones having distinct acoustic properties
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for generating mechanical waves in a viscous-elastic medium (11), that comprises the step of generating an acoustic radiation force (15) in the viscous-elastic medium (11) by the application of acoustic waves focused on an interface (13) separating two areas (11, 14) having different acoustic properties.