Elastography Probe Guidance Using Transient Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastography devices face challenges in accurately positioning the probe due to difficulties in distinguishing homogeneous liver tissue from artifacts like ribs, blood vessels, or tumors, leading to inaccurate measurements, and harmonic-vibration guidance can be skewed by tissue reflections.
Innovation Solution
An elastography device using transient, low-frequency probing pulses to assess the region's aptitude for pulse propagation, providing guidance information based on a propagation quality indicator, and delivering measurement pulses for accurate tissue characterization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If harmonic-vibration guidance is used to help positioning, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to mixing of shear and compression wave propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic transient pulses instead of continuous harmonic vibration. The probing pulses are delivered periodically at a repetition rate between 1-20 Hz, allowing the tissue to return to equilibrium between pulses. This periodic transient approach maintains the guidance benefit while eliminating the wave mixing problem of continuous harmonic vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary probing pulses before the actual measurement to assess propagation quality and guide positioning. These preliminary actions evaluate the aptitude of the region for pulse propagation without performing the final measurement, ensuring accurate positioning before committing to the measurement pulse.
2Ease of operation
If continuous monitoring guidance is provided, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous monitoring guidance through periodic transient pulses rather than continuous vibration. The pulses are delivered at intervals (1-20 Hz repetition rate), allowing the system to monitor propagation quality continuously while consuming minimal energy during the intervals between pulses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses low-amplitude probing pulses that deliver only enough energy to assess propagation quality, not excessive energy. The amplitude is kept low compared to measurement pulses, providing sufficient guidance information while minimizing energy consumption and subject discomfort.
3Measurement precision
If high amplitude measurement pulses are used, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to subject discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the guidance function (low amplitude) from the measurement function (high amplitude). The measurement pulses use high amplitude only when needed for actual measurement, while guidance uses low amplitude probing pulses. This partial action approach minimizes discomfort during guidance while maintaining measurement precision when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment with low-amplitude probing pulses to evaluate propagation quality before delivering high-amplitude measurement pulses. This preliminary action ensures that high-amplitude pulses are only delivered when propagation conditions are favorable, minimizing unnecessary subject discomfort while ensuring measurement precision when performed.
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
The transient-pulses guidance method offers more accurate pre-estimation of tissue stiffness, reduces discomfort, and minimizes ultrasound exposure, while ensuring real-time, continuous guidance without mixing shear and compression wave propagation.
Implementation Method 1
a low frequency vibrator, to deliver low frequency mechanical pulses to the body of a subject... to track how the low frequency mechanical pulses travel in the body of the subject
Implementation Method 2
at least one ultrasound emitter and one ultrasound receiver arranged to emit ultrasound pulses and to receive corresponding echoes to track how the low frequency mechanical pulses travel in the body
Data Source
AI summary
An elastography device includes a probe that includes a protruding part to be applied against the body of a subject, a low frequency vibrator arranged to move the protruding part, at least one ultrasound emitter and one ultrasound receiver; and an electronic unit. The electronic unit is adapted to alternatively control the elastography device so that it operates (a) in a guidance mode to determine whether the probe is correctly positioned in front of a region of the body to be probed to carry out a measurement of a mechanical property of the probed region and (b) in a measurement. In the guidance mode, the vibrator delivers a plurality of successive probing pulses (PRB), each being a transient, low frequency mechanical pulse, and the electronic unit determines a propagation quality indicator (Q) representative of an aptitude of the probed region to transmit the probing pulse.