Adaptive Image Optimization in Induced Wave Ultrasound Imaging

• US 20130123630A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Freiburger, Paul Donald, Fan, Liexiang
• Granted Patent: US 9,239,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/469 for selection of a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/485 involving measuring strain or elastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5269 involving detection or reduction of artifacts for image enhancement algorithms G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5292 using additional data, e.g. patient information, image labeling, acquisition parameters
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52046 Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52085 Details related to the ultrasound signal acquisition, e.g. scan sequences control of medical diagnostic ultrasound devices A61B8/54

Abstract

Adaptive image optimization is provided in induced wave ultrasound imaging. The values for various transmit and receive parameters may be set adaptively. Based on feedback from use with a given patient, the values are set to better optimize signal-to-noise ratio, off-time, tracking accuracy or other consideration. Transmit frequency, F-number, line spacing, tracking pulse repetition frequency, line sampling count, and/or push pulse amplitude values may adapt.

Claims

1. A method for adaptive image optimization in induced wave ultrasound imaging, the method comprising:

transmitting acoustic energy into a patient;

generating a wave in response to the transmitting;

scanning a region of the patient with ultrasound;

detecting, from the scanning, displacement of tissue caused by the wave; and

adapting a transmit frequency, line spacing, F-number, pulse repetition frequency, line sampling count, acoustic energy amplitude, acoustic energy pulse length, or combinations thereof as a function of the displacement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wave comprises a longitudinal wave, the acts of transmitting, generating, scanning and detecting comprising acoustic radiation force imaging.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wave comprises a shear wave, the acts of transmitting, generating, scanning and detecting comprising shear wave imaging.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises:

calculating a signal-to-noise ratio of the displacement; and

adapting as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein calculating the signal-to-noise ratio comprises calculating a magnitude of the displacement as the signal-to-noise ratio.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises:

calculating a wave distance or wave velocity from the displacement; and

adapting as a function of the wave distance or wave velocity.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises adapting as a function of off time of the transmitting.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises:

repeating the transmitting, generating, scanning, and detecting with different settings; and

selecting one of the different settings.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises:

repeating the transmitting at different frequencies;

setting the transmit frequency of the acoustic energy as a function of a highest of the displacements caused by the repetition at the different frequencies.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises:

repeating the scanning at different scanning frequencies;

calculating signal-to-noise ratios from the displacements detected from the repetitions of the scanning; and

setting the transmit frequency of the scanning as a function of the signal-to-noise ratios.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises:

calculating a shear wave velocity as a function of the displacement;

setting a line spacing as a line density for the scanning, the line spacing being a function of the shear wave velocity.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises setting the line spacing for a lateral distance, the lateral distance being a function of the displacement.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises setting the F-number as a function of the displacement such that greater focus is provided for lesser displacement and lesser focus is provided for greater displacement.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises:

calculating a maximum wave velocity; and

setting the pulse repetition frequency of the scanning as a function of the maximum velocity.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein setting comprising setting the pulse repetition frequency and the line sampling count as a function of the maximum velocity, the line sampling count being a number of repetitions of the transmitting, generating, scanning and detecting for each scan line.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises:

repeating the transmitting, generating, scanning and detecting with different amplitudes for the acoustic energy; and

setting the acoustic energy amplitude as a function of the displacements caused by the different amplitudes.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein adapting comprises interpolating or extrapolating a setting.

18. In a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for adaptive image optimization in induced wave ultrasound imaging, the storage medium comprising instructions for:

acoustic radiation force or shear wave imaging a region of a patient; and

adapting a transmit frequency, line spacing, F-number, pulse repetition frequency, line sampling count, acoustic energy amplitude, pulse length, or combinations thereof of the imaging as a function of information from the imaging.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the information from the imaging comprises displacement, and wherein adapting comprises setting as a function of the displacement.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein adapting comprises adapting as a function of wave amplitude, displacement amplitude, minimal cool down, wave velocity, or combinations thereof based on iterative settings for the imaging.