Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography Image Processing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) techniques require skilled technician targeting and laborious on-machine processing of images, providing limited interpretational context and being computationally intensive, which restricts their applications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for processing and analyzing ultrasound shear wave elastography image files, including receiving data files from an SWE apparatus, computing viscoelastic tissue parameters, generating a processed data file with associated identifiers, and creating interactive reports for footwear recommendations based on these parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If skilled technician targeting and on-machine processing are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic region-of-interest identification and stiffness parameter calculation without requiring skilled technician intervention. The processing system autonomously analyzes SWE images, extracts relevant tissue regions, and computes mechanical properties, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for expert operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual technician operations with automated computational processing. Instead of skilled operators manually analyzing images and calculating stiffness values, a computer-based processing system performs these tasks automatically using algorithms that identify regions of interest and compute mechanical properties from SWE data.
2Measurement precision
If on-machine processing is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system autonomously performs all necessary operations including image analysis, region identification, and parameter calculation without requiring technician time for manual processing. This automation maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing the time investment required from operators.
3Loss of information
If computational processing is performed, then interpretational context is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential mechanical properties and interpretational context needed from the full SWE dataset. Rather than processing and presenting all available information, the processing system identifies and extracts key parameters such as stiffness values and tissue characteristics, providing focused interpretational context while minimizing computational energy expenditure.
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 enables efficient processing and analysis of SWE images, providing additional interpretational context and guidance, reducing the need for skilled technician intervention, and facilitating applications in athletic training and footwear selection.
Implementation Method 1
some SWE apparatuses may apply an initial ultrasound pulse using acoustic radiation force, causing target area tissue to deform in response to the force of the ultrasound pulse
Implementation Method 2
the deformation from such a pulse propagates through the tissue as one or more shear waves
Implementation Method 3
These shear waves through the tissue may be monitored by additional ultrasound pulses to calculate a stiffness value of the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein include receiving, by a processor, one or more data files from an ultrasound shear wave elastography apparatus configured to capture viscoelastic tissue properties in an area of a subject using ultrasound shear wave electrography, processing the one or more data files to compute viscoelastic tissue parameters related to the area of the subject, compiling the viscoelastic tissue parameters and one or more associated data file identifiers to generate a processed data file, wherein the one or more associated data file identifiers includes at least one of: user characteristics, exercise characteristics, a footwear type, or an apparel type, and generating a recommendation report, wherein the recommendation report includes a footwear recommendation selected based on one or more trends from the viscoelastic tissue parameters.