Shear Displacement Waveform Correlation in Ultrasound Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shear wave velocity estimation techniques in ultrasound imaging suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), leading to inefficient shear wave tracking and erroneous tissue stiffness computations, which can affect medical diagnosis accuracy, and increasing pulse amplitude or duration to improve SNR results in increased acoustic radiation dosage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves delivering reference pulses to detect initial positions, adapting parameters for pushing pulse segments to generate shear displacement waveforms with a desired shape, and using tracking pulses to detect displacements, thereby improving correlation and estimating shear wave velocity with optimized radiation dosage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amplitude and duration of pushing pulses are increased to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then shear wave tracking efficiency is improved, but acoustic radiation dosage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing pulse is divided into multiple segments with different amplitudes and durations. By segmenting the pulse, the system achieves sufficient signal-to-noise ratio through cumulative displacement effects while keeping individual pulse amplitudes low enough to avoid excessive acoustic radiation dosage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic pushing pulses with optimized amplitude and duration parameters. By using periodic action with appropriate timing, the system accumulates sufficient displacement signal for accurate tracking while allowing tissue recovery periods that reduce overall acoustic radiation exposure.
2Device complexity
If conventional shear wave velocity estimation techniques are used, then implementation is simple, but measurement precision is low due to low signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary optimization of pushing pulse parameters (amplitude, duration, timing) before actual shear wave generation. This preliminary action ensures that the subsequent velocity estimation uses pre-optimized pulses that maximize signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining implementation feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies and optimizes multiple parameters including pushing pulse amplitude, duration, frequency, and timing intervals. By changing these parameters to optimal values, the system achieves high measurement precision for shear wave velocity while avoiding excessive complexity in implementation.
3Illumination intensity
If higher amplitude pushing pulses are used to improve shear wave detection, then displacement signal strength increases, but tissue exposure to acoustic radiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple low-amplitude pushing pulses instead of a single high-amplitude pulse. By applying partial actions repeatedly, the system accumulates sufficient displacement signal strength for accurate detection while each individual pulse remains below thresholds that would cause excessive tissue exposure or damage.
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 enhances shear wave velocity estimation, frame rates, and spatial resolution while optimizing ultrasound radiation dosage, resulting in more accurate tissue characterization and diagnosis.
Implementation Method 1
The pushing pulses typically have higher amplitudes and longer lengths than the acoustic pulses employed in B-mode or Color Doppler ultrasound imaging. Accordingly, the pushing pulses generate shear waves that travel from the point of generation through the tissue causing time varying displacements
Implementation Method 2
Such transducers typically include electromechanical elements capable of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy for transmission and mechanical energy back into electrical signals on reception
Implementation Method 3
Such transducers typically include electromechanical elements capable of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy for transmission and mechanical energy back into electrical signals on reception
Implementation Method 4
The displacements caused by the shear wave may be detected using standard Doppler tracking pulses
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for improving correlation of shear displacement waveforms are presented. The method includes delivering one or more reference pulses to a plurality of target regions to detect corresponding initial positions. Further, a plurality of pushing pulse segments are delivered to one or more pushing locations, where one or more parameters corresponding to the plurality of pushing pulse segments are adapted for generating a shear displacement waveform with a desired wave shape. Additionally, one or more tracking pulses may be delivered to the plurality of target regions for detecting displacements of at least a subset of the target regions as a function of time. Particularly, the displacements are determined as time samples of the shear displacement waveform. Subsequently, a shift between the shear displacement waveform detected at least two different target regions in the subset of the plurality of target regions is detected.