Ultrasound Elastography System Lateral Motion Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound elastography systems face challenges in maintaining high-quality strain images due to slight and often imperceptible relative axial motion between the ultrasound probe and the anatomical site, which can lead to de-correlation, blurring, and misregistration, especially when the motion approaches the limit of user perception.
Innovation Solution
The system determines lateral variation in axial motion and displays an indication of strain image quality using a bar graph that changes shape based on the lateral variation, allowing users to adjust their holding and motion of the probe to improve image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If more compression is applied to improve strain image quality, then the strain image quality improves, but de-correlation, blurring or misregistration effects become dominant
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays a bar graph providing real-time feedback to the user about the amount of compression being applied. The bar graph shows a target range (indicated by markers) for optimal compression, allowing the user to adjust their applied force to maintain image quality while avoiding excessive compression that causes artifacts.
2Reliability
If very little compression is applied to avoid artifacts, then image artifacts are reduced, but the required relative axial motion approaches the limit of user perception
Solution Approach 1:
The bar graph provides visual feedback that guides the user to apply the minimum necessary compression within the target range. This makes the imperceptible motion requirements perceivable through the visual indicator, easing the operational difficulty while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the physical parameter of compression force into a visual parameter displayed on the bar graph. This allows the user to perceive and control the compression level through visual feedback rather than relying on tactile perception alone.
3Ease of operation
If real-time feedback is provided to guide user compression, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing complex haptic or force feedback mechanisms, the system creates a visual copy (bar graph) of the compression state and displays it to the user. This simple visual representation provides comprehensive guidance without requiring complex additional hardware.
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 provides real-time feedback and guidance to users, enabling them to maintain optimal axial motion and reduce lateral tilting or rocking, thereby enhancing the quality of the strain image.
Implementation Method 1
receive a time-varying ultrasound signal from an ultrasound probe having at least one transducer element
Implementation Method 2
determine axial motion data based on the time-varying ultrasound signal, the axial motion data indicating a relative axial motion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2a
AI summary
The present invention relates to an ultrasound elastography system and method for providing a strain image of an anatomical site. The system comprises a signal processing unit (103) configured to receive a time-varying ultrasound signal from an ultrasound probe (101) having at least one transducer element, to determine axial motion data based on the time-varying ultrasound signal, the axial motion data indicating a relative axial motion between the ultrasound probe and the anatomical site in an axial direction (y), and to determine a lateral variation of the axial motion in a lateral direction (x) based on the axial motion data. The system further comprises a display unit (105) configured to display a strain image (200) of the anatomical site based on strain image data which is determined based on the axial motion data, and to display an indication of lateral variation of a quality of the strain image based on the lateral variation of the axial motion.