Ultrasound Probe Vibration for Real-Time Shear Wave Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sonoelastography techniques struggle to provide real-time visualization of shear wave propagation in soft tissues due to high temporal sampling rates or prolonged data acquisition, and they often require high frame rates or invasive methods, making them non-real-time and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A technique that virtually slows down shear wave propagation by modulating the ultrasound probe vibration frequency, allowing for real-time visualization using existing Doppler hardware and a single shear wave source, without assuming specific wave propagation types, and enabling asynchronous operation with the ultrasound scanner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high temporal sampling rate is used to follow shear wave propagation, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to prolonged data acquisition and offline computing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using a vibrator to mechanically vibrate the ultrasound probe at a frequency slightly different from the shear wave excitation frequency. This periodic vibration creates a modulation effect that converts the high-frequency shear wave propagation (several meters per second) into a low-frequency modulated field that can be visualized in real-time. The modulation frequency is chosen to be within the displayable range of the ultrasound scanner, enabling real-time visualization without requiring high temporal sampling rates.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical vibration of ultrasound probe is used to slow down shear wave propagation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional vibration mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs mechanical vibration by attaching a vibrator to the ultrasound probe to oscillate it at a frequency ω-Δω, where ω is the shear wave excitation frequency and Δω is a small frequency difference. This mechanical vibration modulates the received ultrasound echoes, creating a modulated field that represents the shear wave propagation at a slower, visually observable rate. The mechanical vibration approach maintains simplicity while achieving real-time visualization.
3Device complexity
If single shear wave source is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate compared to multiple sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the modulated field as an intermediary to enable shear wave velocity determination from a single source. The vibration of the ultrasound probe acts as a mediator that imprints temporal information about the passing shear wave onto the received echoes. By analyzing the frequency shift or phase modulation in the modulated field, the shear wave velocity can be determined accurately even with a single source, avoiding the need for multiple sources while maintaining measurement precision.
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
Enables real-time visualization of shear wave fields with improved image resolution and reduced noise, allowing for accurate detection of stiff regions in tissues without the need for high frame rates or invasive methods, validated in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous phantom experiments.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasound probe is vibrated by a vibrator at the frequency ω-Δω, where Δω is much smaller than ω
Implementation Method 2
The total field estimated by the ultrasound scanner is the shear wave propagation relative to the probe vibration, which is called the modulated field
Implementation Method 3
A shear wave source propagates shear waves into the medium at the frequency ω
Implementation Method 4
since the shear wave speed in soft tissues is on the order of a few meters per second
Implementation Method 5
sonoelastography estimates the peak displacements of particle motion under audio frequency excitations by analyzing the power spectrum variance of the ultrasound echoes
Implementation Method 6
The present invention can use the existing Doppler hardware on most modern US scanners
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound system visualizes shear wave propagation in real time by slowing down the propagation of the shear wave as seen by the ultrasound probe. The shear wave source propagates shear waves into the medium at a frequency ω. The ultrasound probe is vibrated by a vibrator at the frequency ω−Δω, where Δω is much smaller than ω. The wave propagation as seen by the ultrasound probe is slowed down by a factor Δω/ω. An appropriate value of Δω allows real-time visualization of the wave propagation. Variations include electronically producing a virtual vibration and the use of multiple shear wave sources.