ULTRASOUND ON-PROBE VIBRATION SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ELASTOGRAPHIC AND VISCOELASTOGRAPHIC MEDICAL IMAGING

Smart overview of the Invention

Innovative systems, methods, and devices are designed to induce acoustic vibrations in the human body for elastographic and viscoelastographic medical imaging. By positioning vibration sources on the ultrasound probe, separate from the ultrasound array, these methods enhance the vibrational shear wave fields' size and depth. They also expand the range of frequencies and support multi-channel, multi-directional audio-frequency vibration sources, allowing for improved external vibration techniques in shear wave elastography.

Elastography Techniques

Elastography measures tissue stiffness, providing important diagnostic information. Various existing techniques include:

• Strain or Quasistatic Elastography: Measures changes in shape due to compression.
• Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI): Uses focused ultrasound to measure stiffness within a small region.
• Supersonic Shear Imaging (SSI): Generates shear waves over a larger area for stiffness measurement.
• External Vibration Shear Wave Elastography Imaging (EV-SWEI): Utilizes external shakers to induce shear waves for analysis.

Limitations of Current Methods

The ARFI technique faces significant limitations, including:

• Depth restrictions, typically limited to less than 7 cm, affecting deeper tissue assessments.
• Potential tissue damage due to high-intensity push pulses.
• Degradation of ultrasound probes over time due to intense usage.
• Reliability issues when the ultrasound probe is not aligned properly with the tissue being examined.

Proposed Solution

A new ultrasound elastography diagnostic apparatus is introduced, featuring a probe assembly that integrates a vibration isolation component and multiple vibratory devices. This setup allows for effective transmission of both ARFI and EV-SWEI signals. The apparatus includes interfaces for receiving driver signals and tracking vibration waveforms, facilitating the generation of detailed maps of viscoelastic properties within the subject tissue.

Benefits of the New System

The proposed system addresses the shortcomings of existing elastography techniques by enhancing depth capability, reducing risk of tissue damage, and improving reliability in measurements. By separating vibration sources from the imaging array and employing innovative signal processing methods, this technology aims to provide more accurate assessments of tissue properties across various medical applications.