Method and apparatus for the identification and characterization of regions of altered stiffness
AssigneeDuke University
InventorsGregg E. Trahey, Kathryn R. Nightingale, Roger W. Nightingale, Mark Palmeri
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Abstract
A remote palpation technique in breast imaging involves the use of multiple applications of radiation force in rapid succession throughout a two-dimensional plane in the target tissue medium (10), and combination of the small, two-dimensional displacement maps from each force location into a single, larger remote palpation image (block 43). Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method is also disclosed.
Claims35
An ultrasound method for detecting a region of altered stiffness contained within a medium, comprising the steps of:
- (a) delivering at least one pushing pulse from the ultrasound transducer array to the target region to displace a target region to a displaced position;
- then
- (b) delivering at least one first tracking pulse from the ultrasound transducer array to the target region to detect the displaced position of the target region;
- (c) delivering at least one second tracking pulse from the ultrasound transducer to the target region to detect a relaxed position of target regions;
- then
- (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) to provide a series of cycles, the at least one pushing pulse being delivered to different target regions during the series of cycles and to provide a plurality of displaced positions;
- (e) generating a plurality of displacement maps based on the relaxed position and the plurality of displaced positions;
- and then
- (f) combining the plurality of displacement maps to provide an image.
An ultrasound method comprising the steps of:
- (a) delivering at least one first tracking pulse from an ultrasound transducer array to a target region within a medium to detect an initial position for the target region;
- (b) delivering at least one pushing pulse from the ultrasound transducer array to the target region to displace the target region to a displaced position;
- (c) delivering at least one second tracking pulse from the ultrasound transducer array to the target region to detect a displaced position of the target region;
- and
- (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) to provide a series of cycles, the pushing pulses being delivered to different target regions during the series of cycles.
An ultrasound method comprising the steps of:
- delivering a tracking pulse from an ultrasound transducer array to a target region within a medium to detect an initial position for the target region;
- delivering a pushing pulse from the ultrasound transducer array to the target region to displace the target region to a displaced position;
- and
- delivering a second tracking pulse from the ultrasound transducer array to the target region to detect the displaced position of the target region.
An ultrasound apparatus for detecting a region of altered stiffness contained within a medium, comprising:
- (a) an ultrasound transducer array;
- (b) first transmit means for delivering at least one first tracking pulse from an ultrasound transducer array to at least one target region within the medium to detect an initial position for the at least one target region;
- (c) second transmit means for delivering at least one pushing pulse from the ultrasound transducer array to the at least one target region to displace the target region to a plurality of displaced positions;
- (d) third transmit means for delivering at least one second tracking pulse from the ultrasound transducer array to the at least one target region to detect the plurality of displaced positions;
- (e) control means associated with the first second and third transmit means for providing cycles of delivering pushing pulses to different target regions during the cycles;
- (f) means for generating a plurality of displacement maps based on the initial position and the plurality of displaced positions;
- and
- (g) means for combining the plurality of displacement maps to provide an image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.