Method and apparatus for elasticity imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for performing elasticity imaging using an ultrasound system, comprising:
- setting a region of interest about an ultrasound image;
compressing cyclically a biological tissue;
acquiring at least one of a plurality of RF frame data at an imaging-relevant frame rate;
analyzing said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data using a compression feedback algorithm;
displaying a comparison of a quantitative indication of said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data across at least one displacement to a threshold value across said at least one displacement;
determining an acceptable compression value based upon said comparison;
determining said compression is satisfactory; and
displaying an elasticity image of said biological tissue at said imaging-relevant frame rate.
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Abstract
A computational efficient algorithm for compression analysis of free-hand static elasticity imaging performed using medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging equipment offers tissue compression quality and quantity feedback to the operator. The algorithm includes a criterion for automatic selection of the most advantageous pre- and post-compression frame pairs delivering elasticity images of optimal dynamic ranges (DR) and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). The use of the algorithm in real time eases operator training and reduces significantly the amount of artifact in the elasticity images while lowering the computational burden.
36 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for performing elasticity imaging using an ultrasound system, comprising:
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setting a region of interest about an ultrasound image; compressing cyclically a biological tissue; acquiring at least one of a plurality of RF frame data at an imaging-relevant frame rate; analyzing said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data using a compression feedback algorithm; displaying a comparison of a quantitative indication of said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data across at least one displacement to a threshold value across said at least one displacement; determining an acceptable compression value based upon said comparison; determining said compression is satisfactory; and displaying an elasticity image of said biological tissue at said imaging-relevant frame rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for performing elasticity imaging using an ultrasound system, comprising:
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setting a region of interest about an ultrasound image; compressing cyclically a biological tissue; acquiring at least one of a plurality of RF frame data at an imaging-relevant frame rate; analyzing said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data using a compression feedback algorithm; displaying a comparison of a quantitative indication of said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data across a cumulated axial displacement to a threshold value across said cumulated axial displacement; displaying a comparison of a quantitative indication of said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data across a cumulated lateral displacement to a threshold value across said cumulated lateral displacement; determining an acceptable compression threshold value based upon said comparisons; determining said compression is satisfactory; generating an elasticity image of said biological tissue based upon said comparisons; and displaying said elasticity image of said biological tissue at said imaging-relevant frame rate.
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20. An ultrasound elasticity imaging system, comprising:
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an ultrasound system in communication with a compression fixture; an elasticity imaging module in communication with said b-mode and strain imaging display unit; and means for providing feedback predicting a strain image quality related to a tissue compression quality prior to computing a strain image, said means for providing feedback is in communication with said ultrasound system, said elasticity imaging module and said combined b-mode and strain imaging display unit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for performing elasticity imaging on an ultrasound image, comprising a set of instructions for performing elasticity imaging embodied in a computer readable storage medium of an ultrasound elasticity imaging system, wherein said set of instructions comprise:
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an instruction to set a region of interest about an ultrasound image using a compression fixture; an instruction to compress cyclically a biological tissue using said compression fixture; an instruction to acquire at least one of a plurality of RF frame data at an imaging-relevant frame rate; an instruction to analyze said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data using means for providing feedback predicting a strain image quality related to a tissue compression quality prior to computing a strain image; an instruction to display a comparison of a quantitative indication of said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data across at least one displacement to a threshold value across said at least one displacement; an instruction to determine an acceptable compression value based upon said comparison; an instruction to determine said compression is satisfactory; and an instruction to display an elasticity image of said biological tissue at said imaging-relevant frame rate. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a computer usable medium having a set of instruction means embodied therein for performing elasticity imaging on an ultrasound image, said computer usable medium comprising; a set of instructions to set a region of interest about an ultrasound image using a compression fixture; a set of instructions to compress cyclically a biological tissue using said compression fixture; a set of instructions to acquire at least one of a plurality of RF frame data at an imaging-relevant frame rate; a set of instructions to analyze said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data using a compression feedback algorithm; a set of instructions to display a comparison of a quantitative indication of said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data across at least one displacement to a threshold value across said at least one displacement; a set of instructions to determine an acceptable compression value based upon said comparison; and a set of instructions to display an elasticity image of said biological tissue at said imaging-relevant frame rate. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for performing elasticity imaging on an ultrasound image, comprising:
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setting a region of interest about an ultrasound image using a compression fixture; compressing cyclically a biological tissue using said compression fixture; acquiring at least one of a plurality of RF frame data at an imaging-relevant frame rate; analyzing said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data using a compression feedback algorithm; displaying a comparison of a quantitative indication of said at least one of said plurality of RF frame data across at least one displacement to a threshold value across said at least one displacement; determining an acceptable compression value based upon said comparison; and displaying an elasticity image of said biological tissue at said imaging-relevant frame rate. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification