Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging With Single-Point Echo Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical ultrasound elasticity imaging technologies face challenges in repeatability and stability due to operator-dependent pressure application in pressure elasticity imaging, and complexity and high data processing requirements in shear wave elasticity imaging.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate shear waves at two positions on a target area boundary, detect these waves at a third position outside the area using ultrasound, and calculate elasticity parameters based on the time difference of wave arrival at the third position, reducing the number of echo signal positions and simplifying calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure elasticity imaging is used to detect tissue elasticity difference, then the technology is mature and can provide elasticity information, but the operator's technique requirement increases and repeatability decreases due to manual pressure application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical pressure application system with an automated shear wave generation system using acoustic radiation force. The probe automatically generates shear waves at specific positions without requiring operator intervention for pressure application, thereby eliminating variability due to operator technique while maintaining the ability to detect tissue elasticity differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-measurement by automatically generating shear waves and detecting their propagation through tissue. The probe itself serves as both the actuator for wave generation and the detector for wave propagation, eliminating the need for separate manual pressure application and enabling consistent, repeatable measurements.
2Reliability
If shear wave elasticity imaging is used to improve stability and repeatability, then operator technique requirement decreases, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement process into discrete steps: generating a shear wave at a first position, generating a second shear wave at a second position on the propagation path, and detecting both waves at a third position. This segmentation simplifies the overall detection method by breaking down the complex elasticity measurement into manageable, sequential operations with clearly defined measurement points.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses echo signals to create temporal copies of the shear wave propagation information. By detecting the arrival times of shear waves at the third position and comparing these temporal copies, the system can calculate elasticity parameters without requiring complex real-time processing of continuous wave fields.
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 stability and reduces system performance requirements by minimizing the number of echo signal positions and simplifying calculations, improving the accuracy and efficiency of elasticity parameter determination.
Implementation Method 1
generating a first shear wave at a first position on a boundary of a target area; generating a second shear wave at a second position on the boundary of the target area
Implementation Method 2
transmitting an ultrasound wave to a third position to detect the first shear wave and the second shear wave and receiving echoes of the ultrasound wave to obtain an echo signal
Implementation Method 3
obtaining a time when the first shear wave reaches the third position and a time when the second shear wave reaches the third position according to the echo signal; calculating an elasticity parameter of the target area according to the time when the first shear wave reaches the third position, the time when the second shear wave reaches the third position and a distance between the first position and the second position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a shear wave elasticity measurement method and a shear wave elasticity imaging system. For each pair of corresponding shear waves, an echo signal within a continuous period of time can be obtained only at a third position, so that an elasticity parameter corresponding to the target area can be obtained according to the echo signal within the continuous period of time. Not only the position required for obtaining an echo signal is few, but also the total data volume required for obtaining the echo signal is few; the calculation method is also easy, which significantly reduces the system performance requirement.