Ultrasound Attenuation Mapping via Elevation Compounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging systems face challenges in accurately estimating acoustic attenuation coefficients due to assumptions of tissue homogeneity and errors from vasculature, frequency-dependent diffraction, and other adverse conditions, leading to unreliable attenuation maps.
Innovation Solution
The system acquires echo signal data from multiple planes in elevation, compounds these estimates to reduce in-plane errors, and weights or deletes less accurate data points to improve the accuracy of acoustic attenuation coefficient maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If echo signals are acquired from multiple planes in elevation and compounded, then measurement precision of acoustic attenuation coefficients is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the traditional 2D ultrasound imaging plane into the third dimension (elevation) by acquiring echo signals from multiple planes at different elevation angles. This dimensional expansion allows compounding of attenuation estimates from multiple perspectives, reducing in-plane errors and improving measurement precision without requiring complex mechanical movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines attenuation coefficient estimates from multiple elevation planes through a compounding process. By merging data from different planes and applying weighting based on confidence measures, the system produces a more accurate final attenuation map that reduces the impact of errors present in any single plane.
2Measurement precision
If data points with low accuracy are weighted less or deleted during compounding, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces confidence measures as a new parameter to evaluate the quality of attenuation estimates from different planes. Based on these confidence measures, the system dynamically adjusts weighting factors for each data point during compounding, giving more weight to reliable estimates and less weight to uncertain ones, thereby improving overall measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different weighting strategies to different data points based on their local quality characteristics. Rather than uniformly treating all data, the system identifies regions with low confidence (such as areas affected by vasculature or artifacts) and applies appropriate weighting or exclusion, preserving high-quality information while minimizing the impact of low-quality data.
3Device complexity
If conventional single-plane attenuation estimation is used, then device complexity is minimized, but reliability of attenuation maps deteriorates due to tissue heterogeneity and vasculature effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D single-plane imaging to 3D multi-plane imaging by acquiring data from multiple elevation angles. This dimensional extension provides redundant information from different perspectives, allowing the system to overcome limitations of tissue heterogeneity and vasculature in any single plane, thereby improving reliability while maintaining practical device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through confidence measures that evaluate the quality of each attenuation estimate. This feedback information guides the compounding process by determining appropriate weighting for each plane's contribution, enabling the system to automatically adapt to local tissue characteristics and improve overall map reliability.
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 results in more reliable and accurate acoustic attenuation coefficient maps by minimizing the impact of in-plane errors and providing a more precise representation of tissue characteristics, enhancing diagnostic capabilities such as fatty liver disease staging.
Implementation Method 1
Pulse-echo ultrasound imaging systems transmit beams of acoustic energy over an image field. As each transmitted beam encounters acoustic reflectors and tissue boundaries, some of the transmitted energy is reflected back to the transmitting transducer and received as an echo.
Implementation Method 2
As each transmitted beam encounters acoustic reflectors and tissue boundaries, some of the transmitted energy is reflected back to the transmitting transducer
Implementation Method 3
the beam energy is continually attenuated as it travels through the tissue and encounters acoustic absorption and scattering along the paths of the beams
Implementation Method 4
the beam energy is continually attenuated as it travels through the tissue and encounters acoustic absorption and scattering along the paths of the beams
Implementation Method 5
The transducer array may be a one- or two-dimensional array of transducer elements capable of scanning in two or three dimensions, for instance, in both elevation (in 3D) and azimuth. A 2D array with full electronic steering capability in both elevation and azimuth
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound system produces maps of acoustic attenuation coefficients from B mode image signals. A plurality of maps located in different parallel and elevationally separated planes (A, B, C, D, E) are produced, then compounded in the elevation direction. Confidence maps may also be produced for one or more attenuation coefficient maps, and the confidence map displayed or its measures used to determine weighting for the compounding process. The compounding of elevationally separate planes improves attenuation coefficient estimation in the presence of blood vessels affecting the estimates in one or more of the planes.