Patent ID: 7954379

Claim:
A method for determining the displacement of a target body, comprising: a. applying a mechanical stimulus to a target body; b. coupling a transducer array comprising at least three transducers to the target body; c. emitting a first pulse of ultrasound energy from each of the transducers into the target body; d. receiving with each of the transducers at least one ultrasound echo sequence from each first pulse; e. emitting a second pulse of ultrasound energy from each of the transducers into the target body; f. receiving with each of the transducers at least one ultrasound echo sequence from each second pulse; g. emitting a third pulse of ultrasound energy from each of the transducers into the target body; h. receiving with each of the transducers at least one ultrasound echo sequence from each third pulse; i. estimating a first pair of displacements in two directions in the target body between a first pair of ultrasound sequences comprising the first ultrasound echo sequence and another of said ultrasound echo sequence; and j. estimating a second pair of displacements in two directions in the target body between a second pair of ultrasound echo sequences comprising two ultrasound echo sequences that are not identical to the two ultrasound sequences that are comprised by said first pair.