Detecting objects by vibration-elicited shimmering with a vibration-dedicated ultrasound application

A method for determining a location of an object in a region-of-interest in a subject using an ultrasound system, the method comprising:

• (a) generating mechanical vibrations in a region-of-interest containing an object in a subject using an external vibrational device;
• (b) acquiring ultrasound data from the region-of-interest using an ultrasound system while the mechanical vibrations are propagating within the region-of-interest such that the object vibrates in response thereto;
• (c) processing the ultrasound data with a computer system to determine a location of the object within the region-of-interest based on Doppler ultrasound signatures generated by vibrations of the object interacting with ultrasound waves incident on the object;
• and
• (d) outputting the location of the object via the computer system.