Patent ID: 7905147
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for imaging the displacement of a target body comprising: a. coupling a transducer to the target body; b. applying a mechanical stimulus to a target body, wherein said application commences at a time T c. emitting a first pulse of ultrasound energy from the transducer into the target body; d. receiving with the transducer a first ultrasound echo sequence from the first pulse at time interval T e. emitting a second pulse of ultrasound energy from the transducer into the target body; f. receiving with the transducer a second ultrasound echo sequence from the second pulse at time interval T g. emitting a third pulse of ultrasound energy from the transducer into the target body; h. receiving with the transducer a third ultrasound echo sequence from the third pulse at time interval T i. emitting a fourth pulse of ultrasound energy from the transducer into the target body; j. receiving with the transducer a fourth ultrasound echo sequence from the fourth pulse at time interval T k. estimating the displacement, D l. estimating the displacement, D m. estimating the displacement, D n. deriving a polynomial comprising at least 1 coefficient defining a functional relationship between time and D o. imaging the coefficients of the polynomial derived in the preceding step.