Steered Push Beam Shear Wave Generation for Ultrasound Elastography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging techniques face challenges in generating shear waves with sufficient intensity and coverage for accurate elastography, particularly in deep tissues, as single push beams produce weak shear waves that attenuate quickly and can only image small regions, requiring multiple acquisitions for large field-of-view imaging.
Innovation Solution
The steered push beam (SPB) technique uses a processor to generate multiple ultrasound push beams with overlapping segments and assigned apodization, creating interference to produce multiple shear waves and foci, allowing for the measurement of material mechanical properties using shear wave elastography data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If single push beams are used to generate shear waves, then the system is simple to operate, but the shear wave intensity is weak and attenuation is quick
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ultrasound push beams to generate shear waves simultaneously. By merging the effects of multiple beams, the system achieves higher shear wave intensity and extended penetration depth while maintaining operational simplicity through automated beam coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasound aperture is divided into multiple segments that can be independently controlled to generate multiple push beams. This segmentation allows the system to create multiple shear wave sources simultaneously, improving overall intensity and coverage without complicating the user interface.
2Device complexity
If single push beams are used, then the device complexity is low, but the field-of-view coverage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer aperture is segmented into multiple controllable regions that can generate push beams at different locations. This segmentation enables a single system to cover a large field-of-view by simultaneously imaging multiple regions, avoiding the need for multiple separate acquisitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-point imaging to multi-point imaging by adding a spatial dimension to the push beam generation. Multiple beams are generated simultaneously at different locations, effectively expanding the field-of-view without requiring sequential scanning.
3Strength
If multiple push beams are generated with overlapping segments, then shear wave coverage and intensity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is divided into segments that can be independently controlled to generate multiple overlapping push beams. This segmentation enables precise control of beam overlap regions, creating constructive interference zones that enhance shear wave intensity while managing system complexity through modular control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different segments of the aperture are assigned different control parameters to create localized variations in push beam characteristics. This allows optimal shear wave generation in specific regions while maintaining overall system manageability through localized optimization rather than global complexity.
4Area of stationary object
If multiple acquisitions are performed for large field-of-view imaging, then imaging coverage is improved, but the measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging field is divided into multiple regions that can be imaged simultaneously through multiple overlapping push beams. This eliminates the need for sequential acquisitions, reducing total measurement time while maintaining comprehensive field-of-view coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple push beams are generated simultaneously and continuously to maintain uninterrupted imaging coverage across the entire field-of-view. This continuous multi-beam operation eliminates idle time between acquisitions, significantly reducing total measurement time compared to sequential scanning.
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 method enables robust shear wave generation and imaging across a full field-of-view with improved signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for accurate calculation of mechanical properties like shear wave speed and modulus, even in deep tissues, with flexible configurations for various transducer types and applications.
Implementation Method 1
The push in the tissue results from conversion of the energy in the beam to an acoustic radiation force
Implementation Method 2
generate multiple ultrasound push beams to create interference in the object that creates multiple shear waves and associated multiple foci within the object
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for performing a steered push beam (SPB) technique to create multiple foci generated by the interference of different ultrasound push beams to create shear waves and, based thereon, generate a report indicating mechanical properties about an object.