Ultrasound Elastography System ROI Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound elastography systems face limitations in providing optimal measurements due to improper positioning of the region of interest, leading to sub-optimal liver fibrosis staging results, as they often suffer from contamination by artifacts and reduced signal-to-noise ratio.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound elastography system and method that includes a user input device for defining a region of interest, with an ultrasound signal and image processing assembly to visualize suitability for shear wave elastography and recommend optimal acquisition planes, using local and global approaches for real-time guidance and automatic recommendation of go/no-go regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the user manually selects and positions the region of interest for elastography measurement, then the measurement process can be completed, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to improper positioning and contamination by artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies and positions the optimal region of interest without requiring manual user intervention. The processing assembly analyzes the ultrasound image to determine the best ROI location, eliminating the need for users to manually search and position regions, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical positioning process with an automated image processing system. The processing assembly uses algorithmic analysis of ultrasound images to automatically determine optimal ROI positions, substituting human manual operation with automated computational methods to improve both accuracy and ease of use
2Area of stationary object
If the region of interest is placed in areas with artifacts, then the coverage area is maximized, but the signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates leading to unstable stiffness reconstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies artifact regions in the ultrasound image and automatically excludes them from the region of interest. By detecting and avoiding areas with poor acoustic properties, the system converts the potential harm of artifact contamination into a benefit by ensuring measurements are taken only in high-quality regions, thereby maintaining both adequate coverage and reconstruction stability
Solution Approach 2:
The processing assembly performs preliminary analysis of the ultrasound image before finalizing the ROI selection. It pre-identifies and masks out regions containing artifacts or poor acoustic properties, ensuring that the final ROI is positioned in optimal areas before the elastography measurement is executed, thus preventing signal-to-noise ratio degradation
3Reliability
If shear wave elastography is performed without real-time guidance, then the system complexity is reduced, but the measurement reliability deteriorates due to sub-optimal ROI placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conventional elastography measurement function with an integrated image processing and guidance system. The processing assembly combines ultrasound image analysis, ROI optimization, and real-time visualization into a unified system that works seamlessly with the elastography measurement, improving reliability without requiring separate complex devices
Solution Approach 2:
The processing assembly acts as an intermediary between the raw ultrasound image and the elastography measurement. It provides real-time guidance by analyzing image quality, identifying optimal ROI positions, and presenting recommendations to the user, thereby improving measurement reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through a modular intermediate layer
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
Enhances the accuracy of shear wave elastography measurements by providing real-time guidance on optimal region placement, reducing contamination and improving signal quality, thus improving liver fibrosis staging results.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic radiation force is used to stress the liver or any other anatomical site mechanically and produce a shear wave
Implementation Method 2
produce a shear wave. The resulting tissue displacement is measured and used to estimate the elasticity of the anatomical site
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an ultrasound elastography system (10) for providing an elastography measurement result of an anatomical site (32) a corresponding method. The system (10) is configured to visualize a suitability for shear wave elastography of the region of interest (33) to the user within the ultrasound image (52) and/or to recommend an elastography acquisition plane (48, 50) for conducting shear wave elastography to the user. By this, proper selection of a location for an elastography measurement may be supported.