Time-Aligned Plane Wave Compounding for High-SNR, High-PRF Elastography

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shear wave elastography techniques face challenges in maintaining high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and pulse repetition frequency (PRF) while imaging dispersive tissues, which affects the accuracy of mechanical property measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method involving time-aligned plane wave compounding (TA PWC) is employed, where ultrasound data are acquired using angled wave emissions and temporally aligned through interpolation, followed by compounding to enhance SNR and maintain high PRF.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If coherent plane wave compounding is used to enhance signal-to-noise ratio, then SNR is improved, but effective pulse repetition frequency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoideffective pulse repetition frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing temporal interpolation of ultrasound data before compounding. Specifically, the system interpolates the received echo signals in the temporal domain to generate additional temporal samples, which are then used in the compounding process. This preliminary temporal alignment ensures that signals from multiple plane wave transmissions are properly synchronized, allowing coherent compounding to enhance SNR without the usual penalty to effective PRF, thereby resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple angled plane wave transmissions are used to improve SNR through compounding, then SNR is enhanced, but frame rate is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidframe rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing temporal interpolation of ultrasound data before compounding. Specifically, the system interpolates the received echo signals in the temporal domain to generate additional temporal samples, which are then used in the compounding process. This preliminary temporal alignment ensures that signals from multiple plane wave transmissions are properly synchronized, allowing coherent compounding to enhance SNR without the usual penalty to effective PRF, thereby resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If high frame rates are achieved using plane wave imaging, then productivity is improved, but echo signal-to-noise ratio is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe rateVSAvoidecho signal-to-noise ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining multiple plane wave echo signals from different transmission angles through coherent compounding. The system receives echoes from multiple angled plane wave transmissions, temporally interpolates them to align in time, and then coherently sums them to produce a compounded image. This merging of multiple signals enhances the echo SNR while maintaining the high frame rates characteristic of plane wave imaging, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 allows for high SNR and PRF, enabling accurate characterization of dispersive tissues and improving frame rates for shear wave elastography and other ultrasound imaging applications.

Implementation Method 1

ultrasound data are acquired using a series of angled wave emissions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

the received echoes are coherently summed, or compounded

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEcho: Echo

Implementation Method 3

Shear wave elastography uses focused ultrasound beams to generate acoustic radiation force (ARF) to generate a propagating shear wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic radiation force: Acoustic Radiation Pressure

Implementation Method 4

Plane wave imaging or other approaches are then used to measure the shear wave propagation with high effective frame rates in the kilohertz range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear wave propagation:

Data Source

PatentUS12352855B2Time-aligned plane wave compounding of ultrasound data

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH

AI summary

Shear wave elastography and/or other ultrasound imaging procedures are performed using a data acquisition technique in which data are acquired with high SNR while maintaining a high PRFe, using conventional clinical ultrasound scanners. In general, ultrasound data are acquired using plane waves at different angles, after which a time alignment process is applied to the acquired data. The time alignment uses interpolation to obtain data points at higher frame rates, and the time-aligned data is compounded to increase the SNR.