Method and system for improving the spatial resolution for strain imaging

• US 7,050,610 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Chen, Jian-Feng, Von Behren, Patrick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/825,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/166, 382/218, 382/282, 382/285, 382/294, 382/107, 324/309, 324/318, 424/9.51, 600/407, 600/410, 600/420, 600/437, 600/442, 600/443, 600/449, 600/450, 600/587, 128/898
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/485 involving measuring strain or elastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8981 Discriminating between fixed and moving objects or between objects moving at different speeds, e.g. wall clutter filter
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52036 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation
• 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 7/5206 Two-dimensional coordinated display of distance and direction; B-scan display

Abstract

A method and system for quantification of strain imaging is disclosed. The method and system comprises performing a motion analysis on the at least two regions of interest. The method and system further includes providing a strain estimate for each of the at least two regions of interest and comparing the strain estimates of each of the at least two regions to quantify the strain for the at least two regions of interest. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides for strain quantification based on conventional B-mode images. Using this technique, the strain of regions of interest (ROI) defined by users can be determined and quantitative comparisons can be effectively made in real time. The strain quantification can be used to determine tissue'"'"'s properties and can potentially be applied in breast imaging as well as cardiac imaging.

Claims

1. A method for quantification of strain imaging comprising:

(a) performing a motion analysis for tissue strain quantification on at least two selected regions of interest (ROI) before and after tissue compression;

(b) providing a strain estimate for each of said at least two ROIs based upon said motion analysis;

(c) comparing said strain estimates of each of said at least two ROIs to quantify strain for the at least two ROIs; and

wherein said performing comprises;

(a1) generating a plurality of blocks for each of said at least two ROIs; and

(a2) utilizing a block matching technique to perform a motion analysis on each of said at least two ROIs.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of blocks touch a boundary of said at least two ROIs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing is performed in accordance with equation:

$\mathrm{ST}=<br><br>\underset{i=i_1}{\overset{i_2}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br><br><br>\frac{\left(a_i-b_i\right)}{d_i}<br><br>\times <br><br>100<br><br>\%$

where ST is strain estimate; and

where a_i and b_i are the displacement components for two blocks, which cross over a boundary of a specific ROI, in a direction of i-th A-line, d_i is a distance between said two blocks, and i₁ and i₂ are indices along an A-line on a B-mode image covering said ROI.

4. A method for quantification of strain imaging comprising:

(a) performing a motion analysis on a plurality of selected regions of interest (ROIs);

said performing further comprising;

(a1) generating a plurality of blacks for each of at least two ROIs; and

(a2) utilizing a block matching technique to perform a motion analysis on each of said plurality of ROIs, wherein each of said plurality of blocks touch a boundary of said at least two ROIs;

(b) providing a strain estimate for each of said plurality of ROIs based upon said motion analysis; and

(c) comparing said strain estimates of each of said plurality of ROIs to quantify said strain for said at least two ROIs.

5. The method of claim 4 where said strain estimate is performed in accordance with equation:

$\mathrm{ST}=<br><br>\underset{i=i_1}{\overset{i_2}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br><br><br>\frac{\left(a_i-b_i\right)}{d_i}<br><br>\times <br><br>100<br><br>\%$

where ST is strain estimate; and

where a_i and b_i are displacement components for two blocks, which cross over a boundary of a specific ROI, in a direction of i-th A-line, d_i is a distance between said two blocks, and i₁ and i₂ are indices along an A-line on a B-mode image covering that specific ROI.

6. A computer readable medium for quantification of strain imaging including program instructions for:

(a) performing a motion analysis for tissue strain quantification on at least two selected regions of interest (ROI) before and after tissue compression;

(b) providing a strain estimate for each of said at least two ROIs based upon said motion analysis;

(c) comparing strain estimates of each of said at least two ROIs to quantify the strain for said at least two ROIs; and

wherein said performing said motion analysis comprises;

(a1) generating a plurality of blocks for each of said at least two ROIs; and

(a2) utilizing a block matching technique to perform a motion analysis on each of said at least two ROIs.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of blocks touch a boundary of said at least two ROIs.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein said providing said strain estimate (b) is performed in accordance with equation:

$\mathrm{ST}=<br><br>\underset{i=i_1}{\overset{i_2}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br><br><br>\frac{\left(a_i-b_i\right)}{d_i}<br><br>\times <br><br>100<br><br>\%$

where ST is strain estimate; and

where a_i and b_i are displacement components for two blocks, which cross over a boundary of a specific ROI, in a direction of i-th A-line, d_i is a distance between said two blocks, and i₁ and i₂ are indices along an A-line on a B-mode image covering that specific ROI.

9. A computer readable medium for quantification of strain imaging having program instructions for:

(a) performing a motion analysis on a plurality of selected regions of interest (ROIs);

said performing further comprising;

(a1) generating a plurality of blocks for each of said plurality of ROIs;

(a2) utilizing a block matching technique to perform a motion analysis on each of said plurality of ROIs, wherein each of said plurality of blocks touch a boundary of said plurality of ROIs;

(b) providing a strain estimate for each of said plurality of ROIs based upon said motion analysis; and

(c) comparing strain estimates of each of said plurality of ROIs to quantify said strain for at least two ROIs.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein strain estimate is performed in accordance with equation:

$\mathrm{ST}=<br><br>\underset{i=i_1}{\overset{i_2}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br><br><br>\frac{\left(a_i-b_i\right)}{d_i}<br><br>\times <br><br>100<br><br>\%$

where ST is strain estimate; and

where a_i and b_i the displacement components for two blocks, which cross over a boundary of a specific ROI, in a direction of i-th A-line, d_i is a distance between said two blocks, and i₁ and i₂ are indices along an A-line on a B-mode image covering that specific ROI.

11. A method for quantification of strain imaging comprising:

(a) performing a motion analysis on at least two selected regions of interest (ROI) before and after tissue compression;

(b) providing a strain estimate for each of said at least two ROIs said strain estimate being performed in accordance with equation;

$\mathrm{ST}=<br><br>\underset{i=i_1}{\overset{i_2}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br><br><br>\frac{\left(a_i-b_i\right)}{d_i}<br><br>\times <br><br>100<br><br>\%$

wherein ST is strain estimate; and

wherein a_i and b_i are displacement components for two blocks, which cross over a boundary of a specific ROI, in a direction of i-th A-Line, d_i is a distance between said two blocks, and i₁ and i₂ are indices along an A-line on a B-mode image covering the ROI.

12. A method for quantification of strain imaging comprising:

(a) performing a motion analysis on a plurality of selected regions of interest (ROIs);

said performing further comprising;

(a1) generating a plurality of blocks for each of at least two ROIs; and

(a2) utilizing a block matching technique to perform a motion analysis on each of said plurality of ROIs, wherein each of said plurality of blocks touch a boundary of said at least two ROIs;

(b) providing a strain estimate for each of said plurality of ROIs, said strain estimate performed in accordance with equation;

$\mathrm{ST}=<br><br>\underset{i=i_1}{\overset{i_2}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br><br><br>\frac{\left(a_i-b_i\right)}{d_i}<br><br>\times <br><br>100<br><br>\%$

wherein ST is strain estimate; and

wherein a_i and b_i are displacement components for two blocks, which cross over a boundary of a specific ROI, in a direction of i-th A-line, d_i is a distance between two blocks, and i₁ and i₂ are indices along an A-line on a B-mode image covering that specific ROI; and

(c) comparing strain estimates of each of said plurality of ROIs to quantify the strain for said at least two ROIs.

13. A computer readable medium for quantification of strain imaging including program instructions to perform a method comprising:

(a) performing a motion analysis on at least two selected regions of interest (ROI) before and after tissue compression;

(b) providing a strain estimate for each of said at least two ROIs, said strain estimate performed in accordance with equation;

$\mathrm{ST}=<br><br>\underset{i=i_1}{\overset{i_2}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br><br><br>\frac{\left(a_i-b_i\right)}{d_i}<br><br>\times <br><br>100<br><br>\%$

wherein ST is strain estimate; and

wherein a_i and b_i are displacement components for two blocks, which cross over a boundary of a specific ROI, in a direction of i-th A-line, d_i is a distance between said two blocks, and i₁ and i₂ are indices along an A-line on a B-mode image covering that specific ROI; and

(c) comparing strain estimates of each of said at least two ROIs to quantify the strain for at least two ROIs.

14. A computer readable medium for quantification of strain imaging having program instructions for:

(a) performing a motion analysis on a plurality of selected regions of interest (ROIs);

said performing further comprising;

(a1) generating a plurality of blocks for each of said plurality of ROIs;

(a2) utilizing a block matching technique to perform a motion analysis on each of said plurality of ROIs, wherein each of said plurality of blocks touch a boundary of said plurality of ROIs;

(b) providing a strain estimate for each of said plurality of ROIs, said strain estimate performed in accordance with equation;

$\mathrm{ST}=<br><br>\underset{i=i_1}{\overset{i_2}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br><br><br>\frac{\left(a_i-b_i\right)}{d_i}<br><br>\times <br><br>100<br><br>\%$

wherein ST is strain estimate; and

wherein a_i and b_i are displacement components for two blocks, which cross over a boundary of a specific ROI, in a direction of i-th A-line, d_i is a distance between said two blocks, and i₁ and i₂ are indices along an A-line on a B-mode image covering that specific ROI; and

(c) comparing strain estimates of each of said plurality of ROIs to quantify strain for at least two ROIs.