Methods And Systems For Spatially Modulated Ultrasound Radiation Force Imaging

• US 20110184287A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Rochester
• Original Assignee: University of Rochester
• Inventors: McAleavey, Stephen A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,753,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/438
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/485 involving measuring strain or elastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52022 using a sequence of pulses, at least one pulse manipulating the transmissivity or reflexivity of the medium
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52042 determining elastic properties of the propagation medium or of the reflective target diagnostic techniques involving the measurement of strain A61B8/485

Abstract

Methods for determining the shear modulus of a tissue of an individual are disclosed. In one embodiment, an acoustic pulse is transmitted and a reference echo signal is received. A first push pulse is transmitted at a second location of the individual. A second push pulse is transmitted at a third location of the individual. A series of tracking pulses are transmitted at the first location and a tracking echo signal is received from each tracking pulse. The effect of the first and second push pulses on the tissue is determined through analysis of the tracking echo signals. The shear modulus of the tissue is calculated based on the effect of the push pulses on the tissue. A system for imaging a region of tissue is presented.

Claims

9-1. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one acoustic pulse and the tracking pulses are B-mode ultrasound pulses.

17. A system for producing an image of a region of tissue of an individual, the system comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting acoustic pulses and receiving echo data, the ultrasonic transducer having an addressable array of ultrasonic elements;

a controller in communication with the ultrasonic transducer and programmed to;

(a) cause a first set of ultrasonic elements of the ultrasonic transducer to transmit and receive an ensemble of acoustic pulses and corresponding echo signals;

(b) calculate a shear modulus of each tissue of a first set of tissues of the individual based on the received echo signals resulting from the ensemble;

(c) repeat steps (a) and (b) for different sets of ultrasonic elements until a predetermined number of ultrasonic elements have transmitted the ensemble; and

(d) generate an image of the tissue by compiling the shear modulus of each tissue of each echo signal set.

18-2. The system of claim 16, wherein the ensemble of acoustic pulses and corresponding echo signals comprises:

(a) at least one acoustic pulse transmitted at a first location of the individual and reference echo signal received at the first location;

(b) a first series of tracking pulses transmitted at the first location and echo signals received at the first location from each tracking pulse of the first series to determine the effects of the first push pulse on tissues of the individual at the first location; and

(c) a second push pulse transmitted at a third location of the individual;

(d) a second series of tracking pulses transmitted at the first location and echo signals received at the first location from each tracking pulse of the second series to determine the effects of the second push pulse on the tissue of the first location.