Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography External Mechanical Vibrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound systems for shear wave elastography are limited to high-end platforms capable of generating acoustic radiation force (ARF) pulses, restricting the use of shear wave elastography to only premium systems, and there is a need for a method to induce shear waves without ARF to enable its use across a broader range of ultrasound platforms, especially for point-of-care and low-resource settings.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an actuation assembly coupled to the ultrasound probe to apply external mechanical vibrations, synchronized with ultrasound scanner trigger signals, allowing for the generation and tracking of shear waves without the need for ARF, and includes a controller to manage the actuation and processing of echo signals for elastography imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic radiation force (ARF) is used to generate shear waves, then shear wave elastography can be performed, but the system requires high-end ultrasound platforms with transducers capable of generating high-voltage and long ARF push-pulses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acoustic radiation force mechanism with external mechanical vibrations applied through the ultrasound probe. This substitution allows shear wave generation using standard ultrasound transducers without requiring high-voltage ARF capabilities, thereby enabling SWE on lower-end platforms while maintaining reliable shear wave generation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external compression is used to generate shear waves, then SWE can be performed on lower-end systems, but the system requires manual operation by the sonographer and rapid image acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs controlled mechanical vibrations applied through the ultrasound probe to generate shear waves. This approach automates the external compression process, eliminating the need for manual sonographer operation while maintaining compatibility with lower-end ultrasound systems. The vibrations are precisely controlled to generate consistent shear waves for accurate elastography.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the ultrasound probe itself to serve dual functions: both imaging and shear wave generation. By integrating the vibration generation capability into the probe, the system eliminates the need for separate external compression devices or manual operations, allowing the device to perform elastography functions autonomously.
3Measurement precision
If ARF-based SWE is implemented, then quantitative tissue stiffness measurement is achieved, but the system is limited to premium ultrasound systems only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ultrasound probe universal by enabling it to generate shear waves through external mechanical vibrations in addition to its standard imaging function. This multi-functionality allows any ultrasound system with a standard probe to perform shear wave elastography, not just high-end ARF-capable systems, while maintaining accurate tissue stiffness measurement through the same velocity-based calculation methods.
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 shear wave elastography on a wider range of ultrasound platforms, potentially increasing accessibility and reducing costs by allowing lower-end systems to perform shear wave imaging, while maintaining high frame rates and image quality, and providing accurate tissue stiffness measurements.
Implementation Method 1
actuation assembly coupled to the probe and configured to apply an external force against the subject for generating a shear wave within the target region
Implementation Method 2
probe configured to transmit ultrasound signals toward a target region of a subject and receive echo signals responsive to the ultrasound signals
Implementation Method 3
receive echo signals responsive to the ultrasound signals
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) are described. According to examples, an ultrasound SWE system includes an ultrasound probe (120), an actuation assembly (130) coupled to the probe and configured to apply an external force against a subject for generating a shear wave within a target region, a controller (140) coupled to the actuation assembly to control the actuation assembly to apply the force responsive to a trigger signal, and ultrasound scanner (110) configured to generate the trigger signal, and further configured to generate an elastography image based at least in part on echo signals received from the target region.