Shear Wave Elastography Reliability Indicator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Shear wave elastography imaging methods face challenges in reproducibility and reliability, particularly in tissues with strong motion due to patient breathing, organ pulsation, and anatomical shadowing, leading to increased measurement variability and acquisition time.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for shear wave elastography imaging that includes determining a reliability indicator based on stability, motion, and image quality indicators, allowing for optimized diagnostic performance by assessing and displaying these indicators to the operator, thereby improving the reliability of shear wave elastography imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If shear wave elastography imaging is performed in tissues with strong motion (breathing, pulsation), then the imaging can be applied to clinically relevant areas, but measurement variability increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplicability to moving tissuesVSAvoidmeasurement reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a reliability indicator that provides real-time feedback to the operator about the quality of shear wave elastography measurements. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to assess whether measurements are reliable before making diagnostic decisions, thereby maintaining reliability even when imaging moving tissues. The reliability indicator is computed based on multiple parameters including signal-to-noise ratio, correlation coefficients, and measurement consistency, providing a comprehensive quality assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If multiple shear wave imaging steps are performed to improve measurement reliability, then reliability increases, but acquisition time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidacquisition time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a strategy of performing a limited number of shear wave imaging steps (typically 3-5 acquisitions) rather than continuously acquiring data. The reliability indicator determines whether this partial action is sufficient, avoiding excessive acquisitions when reliability is already adequate while enabling additional acquisitions only when needed to achieve acceptable reliability levels. This balances measurement reliability with efficient use of acquisition time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If shear wave elastography is performed without reliability assessment, then the procedure is simpler and faster, but diagnostic accuracy decreases due to undetected poor quality measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoiddiagnostic accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reliability indicator system operates autonomously, automatically computing quality metrics and providing assessment without requiring manual intervention or complex operator judgment. The system self-evaluates the quality of each measurement set and provides a clear reliability indication, making the complexity of reliability assessment transparent to the operator while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through objective quality control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The method reduces measurement variability and acquisition time by providing operators with real-time feedback on image reliability, enabling more accurate and efficient shear wave elastography imaging.

Implementation Method 1

causing an array of transducers to emit at least one ultrasound wave into the medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

a shear wave is generated inside the medium by causing an array of transducers to emit at least one ultrasound wave into the medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear wave generation:

Implementation Method 3

sound signals comprising echoes generated by the ultrasound waves interacting with scatterers in the medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEcho: Echo

Implementation Method 4

causing sound signals received from said observation field to be detected in real time by said array of transducers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound detection: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentUS11635514B2Imaging methods and apparatuses for performing shear wave elastography imaging

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 SUPERSONIC IMAGINE SA

AI summary

A method for performing shear wave elastography imaging of an observation field in a medium, the method comprising a plurality of shear wave imaging steps (30) to acquire a plurality of sets of shear wave propagation parameters, the method further comprising a reliability indicator determining step (40) during which a reliability indicator of the shear wave elastography imaging of the observation field is determined.