Narrowband Shear Wave Generation Using Sinusoidally-Modulated Acoustic Radiation Force
Journal
IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
Most transient ultrasound elastography methods use high-intensity ultrasound ‘push’ pulses that generate a shear wave with a wide frequency spectrum. However, it is difficult to control how the energy of the wave is distributed within that spectrum. For this reason, the shear-wave group velocity may not match that of harmonic methods like magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). The objective of this study was to introduce a narrowband shear wave generation method produced by ‘push’ pulses with sinusoidally-modulated intensity. The method, named harmonic shear wave imaging (HSWI), successively transmits a series of push pulses with a periodic change in duration. The excited shear waves form a continuous shear wave with a known main frequency that can be controlled by the user. Push pulses are interleaved with imaging pulses so only one clinical transducer is used to generate and record the shear waves. The proposed method was compared to MRE and a transient shear wave elastography method using phantoms and in vivo measurements. It was found that HSWI produces narrowband waves with a speed that closely matches that measured by MRE. Measurement of the acoustic output parameters indicated that the acoustic intensities in HSWI are suitable for clinical applications. The ability of HSWI to generate narrowband shear waves using a single linear array transducer makes it amenable for clinical translation. HSWI can potentially use the same thresholds as MRE for diagnosis of diseases affecting the stiffness of soft tissues. IEEE
Subjects
acoustic radiation force; dispersion; elasticity; Harmonic shear wave elastography; ultrasound imaging; viscoelasticity
SDGs
Other Subjects
Acoustic emissions; Acoustic radiators; Acoustic wave propagation; Acoustic wave transmission; Diagnosis; Dispersion (waves); Elasticity; Harmonic analysis; Magnetic resonance; Medical imaging; Plasma diagnostics; Shear waves; Transducers; Ultrasonic imaging; Viscoelasticity; Acoustic radiation force; Harmonic shear waves; High intensity ultrasounds; Linear array transducers; Magnetic resonance elastography; Modulated acoustic radiation force; Ultrasound elastography; Ultrasound imaging; Shear flow
Type
journal article