Ultrasound Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging Noise Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for imaging biological tissue elasticity using shear waves have limitations in accuracy and spatial resolution due to difficulties in creating homogeneous strains in complex tissue geometries and challenges in determining shear wave propagation direction, leading to qualitative rather than quantitative measurements.
Innovation Solution
The method involves applying a power ultrasound beam to excite shear waves, detecting tissue displacements in multiple sample volumes, determining shear wave velocities in both perpendicular and parallel directions to the axis of excitation, and calculating noise levels to improve the accuracy and reliability of elasticity imaging by accounting for arbitrary wave propagation directions and noise, allowing for real-time imaging of tissue elasticity parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a power ultrasound beam is applied to excite shear waves and tissue displacements are detected in multiple sample volumes, then the accuracy and spatial resolution of elasticity imaging are improved, but the complexity of the measurement system and data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue region is divided into multiple sample volumes arranged in probing lines at different distances from the excitation axis. Each sample volume independently detects tissue displacement, allowing parallel processing of elasticity parameters across different spatial locations. This segmentation enables simultaneous measurement of shear wave velocities in multiple directions without requiring a completely different system for each measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
A single power ultrasound beam serves multiple functions: it excites shear waves in the tissue and simultaneously provides the acoustic radiation force for displacement detection. The same ultrasound transducer that transmits the excitation beam also receives the response signals, eliminating the need for separate transmission and reception systems and reducing overall device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If shear wave propagation direction is determined by traditional time of flight method, then the measurement process is simple, but the accuracy decreases due to inability to account for arbitrary wave propagation directions
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system transitions from one-dimensional time-of-flight measurement to two-dimensional velocity determination by measuring wave propagation in both directions perpendicular and parallel to the excitation axis. This dimensional expansion allows the system to account for arbitrary wave propagation directions through trigonometric calculations, significantly improving measurement accuracy without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system determines noise levels from the detected tissue displacement signals and uses this feedback to evaluate measurement reliability. When noise levels exceed threshold values, the system can reject inaccurate measurements or request re-measurement, ensuring that only reliable elasticity parameters are used for diagnosis. This feedback mechanism improves accuracy by filtering out erroneous data without adding complex hardware.
3Measurement precision
If external static stresses are created on the tissue surface for elasticity measurement, then the measurement can be performed, but the accuracy deteriorates because homogeneous strain cannot be created in complex tissue geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces external mechanical stress application with acoustic radiation force generated by focused ultrasound. The power ultrasound beam creates shear waves through acoustic radiation pressure, eliminating the need for physical mechanical devices to apply stress. This substitution allows homogeneous strain creation in complex tissue geometries where mechanical devices cannot reach or apply uniform force, significantly improving both accuracy and ease of operation.
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 the accuracy and spatial resolution of biological tissue elasticity imaging, providing more reliable and quantitative measurements by accounting for noise levels and arbitrary wave propagation, thereby improving the diagnostic value of tissue elasticity assessments.
Implementation Method 1
The applying of a pulsed beam of waves in a certain axis of excitation results in a dynamic response of the biological tissue to the pulsed acoustic radiation force
Implementation Method 2
transmitting a plurality of probing ultrasound pulses into biological tissue along each of the probing lines, receiving a plurality of ultrasound signals from the biological tissue generated in response to the plurality of probing ultrasound pulses
Implementation Method 3
The shear wave propagation velocity is determined by the shear modulus and the biological tissue density; therefore, the determining of the shear wave velocity solves the problem of finding the shear modulus and the tissue Young's modulus
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to ultrasound methods and medical diagnostic apparatus using ultrasound probing for estimation of the biological tissue elastic properties by determining the propagation velocity of shear wave and imaging the elastic properties of tissue. The method is based on the determining the shear wave front propagation velocity along and perpendicular to the axis of excitation (Ox). In order to implement the method, a power ultrasound beam of waves is used for excitation of shear wave and a plurality of ultrasound pulses is sequentially transmitted to detect the tissue displacement by means of tissue response signals. The image of at least one parameter of tissue elasticity is acquired taking into account the noise level that occurred when determining the shear wave propagation velocity. The results are displayed in the form of images of the elasticity parameters and the noise level and indication of quantitative values of elasticity parameters and noise level. The technical result is to increase the accuracy and reliability of the measurements and increase the spatial resolution when imaging the biological tissue parameters in real time.