Patent ID: 8494791
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method for improving correlation of shear displacement waveforms for ultrasound imaging, comprising: delivering one or more reference pulses to a plurality of target regions to detect initial positions of the plurality of target regions; delivering a pulse sequence comprising a plurality of pushing pulse segments to one or more pushing locations, wherein one or more parameters corresponding to the plurality of pushing pulse segments are adapted such that the pulse sequence approximates a desired wave shape for generating at least one shear displacement waveform that approximates the same desired wave shape, wherein generating the shear displacement waveform with the desired wave shape comprises generating a sinusoid waveform, a triangular waveform, a square waveform, a sinc waveform, or combinations thereof; delivering one or more tracking pulses to the plurality of target regions for detecting displacements of at least a subset of the plurality of target regions as a function of time, wherein the displacements are time samples of the shear displacement waveform; determining a shift between the shear displacement waveform detected at least two different target regions in the subset of the plurality of target regions; estimating one or more material properties of one or more of the plurality of target regions based on the determined shift; and providing control and timing of said reference pulses, pushing pulse segments, and tracking pulses with a processing unit.