Elastography Device Transducer Displacement Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastography devices face challenges in accurately compensating for the displacement of ultrasound transducers during tissue characterization, leading to noisy elastograms and increased computational burdens, especially in real-time applications like Vibration-Controlled Harmonic Elastography.
Innovation Solution
The elastography device employs a compensation technique that adjusts temporal offsets upon emission and reception of ultrasound pulses based on the displacement of the transducer, using a controllable delay to align echo signals, reducing the need for post-processing and minimizing computational resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If post-processing compensation techniques are used to correct transducer displacement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and computational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by compensating for transducer displacement in real-time during the ultrasound pulse sequence execution, rather than performing post-processing compensation. The electronic unit continuously adjusts temporal offsets based on measured transducer position, aligning echo signals before they are used for tissue deformation analysis. This eliminates the need for complex post-processing computational steps while maintaining measurement precision.
2Productivity
If real-time compensation is implemented during ultrasound pulse sequences, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement signal that represents transducer displacement, which serves as a mediator between the transducer's physical movement and the required temporal offset adjustments. The electronic unit uses this intermediate signal to automatically calculate and apply appropriate temporal offsets to ultrasound pulses and echo signals, simplifying the control architecture while enabling real-time compensation and improving processing efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If temporal offsets are adjusted based on transducer displacement, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time occurs due to additional processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous compensation by continuously adjusting temporal offsets throughout the entire ultrasound pulse sequence based on real-time transducer displacement measurements. Rather than interrupting the measurement process to perform batch processing, the system maintains continuous operation, applying corrections on-the-fly as each pulse is transmitted and its echo received. This eliminates time losses associated with stopping for post-processing while maintaining precise echo signal alignment.
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 significantly reduces noise in elastograms, enhances data processing efficiency, and allows for real-time applications by directly compensating for transducer displacement at the source, resulting in more accurate tissue deformation measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a low frequency vibrator, arranged to induce a displacement of said single ultrasound transducer or plurality of ultrasound transducers towards said tissue
Implementation Method 2
transmit ultrasound pulses and to receive corresponding echoes
Implementation Method 3
receive corresponding echoes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
An elastography device includes a probe with a single ultrasound transducer (6); or a plurality of ultrasound transducers, and a low frequency vibrator (5) arranged to induce a displacement of said single ultrasound transducer or plurality of ultrasound transducers towards a tissue (8). The device is configured to emit a sequence of ultrasound pulses and to acquire echo signals received in response to track how elastic waves, induced by the displacement, travel in the tissue. The device is configured to generate, for one or more of the ultrasound pulses emitted a temporal offset upon emission (δtTX), and/or a temporal offset upon reception (δtRX), so that a difference thereof varies as a function of 2.d/vus, where d is the displacement of the single transducer or plurality of ultrasound transducers, and where vus is the speed of ultrasound in said tissue.