# US 8,147,410 B2 · Method and apparatus for ultrasound imaging and elasticity measurement

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- Number: US 8,147,410 B2
- Document ID: US8147410B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/382,699
- Filed: 2009-03-23
- Published: 2010-09-23
- Granted: 2012-04-03
- Earliest claimed: 2009-03-23
- Assignees: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Inventors: Yongping Zheng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8147410B2

## CPC

- A61B 8/00: Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B 8/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display}
- A61B 8/485: {involving measuring strain or elastic properties}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A method for performing ultrasound imaging and elasticity measurement, the method includes scanning an object to obtain a B-mode ultrasound image, selecting an A-mode signal from the B-mode ultrasound image, transmitting a high frame rate ultrasound signal, by a selected group of ultrasound transducers, at the selected A-mode signal location, forming a transient M-mode image based on the high frame rate ultrasound signal, enhancing propagation trace of shear wave based on the transient M-mode image, calculating elasticity of the object based on the propagation trace and displaying result, and displaying, simultaneously, the B-mode ultrasound image and the transient M-mode measurement result.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for performing ultrasound imaging and elasticity measurement, the method comprising:
scanning an object to obtain a B-mode ultrasound image;
selecting an A-mode signal location from the B-mode ultrasound image;
transmitting a high frame rate ultrasound signal, by a selected group of ultrasound transducers, at the selected A-mode signal location;
forming a transient M-mode image based on the high frame rate ultrasound signal;
obtaining a propagation trace of a shear wave on the transient M-mode image;
calculating a propagation speed of the shear wave based on the propagation trace, and calculating an elasticity of the object based on the propagation speed of the shear wave; and
displaying, simultaneously, the B-mode ultrasound image, the transient M-mode image, and the elasticity of the object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further includes synchronizing the beginning of a disturbance on the object and the forming of the transient M-mode image.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the high frame rate ultrasound signal is at least 1000 frames/sec.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the propagation trace of the shear wave is overlaid on the transient M-mode image.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating of a propagation speed of the shear wave is based on a slope of the propagation trace of the shear wave.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein sub-segments of the propagation trace of the shear wave are used to calculate more than one slope.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprises selecting at least one other A-mode signal location from the B-mode image, and calculating an elasticity of the object based on a propagation speed of a shear wave for the at least one other A-mode signal location.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, further comprising deriving a map of Young's modulus based on the slope.

### Claim 9

An imaging apparatus for performing ultrasound imaging and elasticity measurement, comprising:
a scan control unit configured to scan an object to obtain a B-mode ultrasound image;
a selecting unit configured to select an A-mode signal location from the B-mode ultrasound image;
an ultrasound probe configured to transmit a high frame rate ultrasound signal, by a selected group of ultrasound transducers, at the selected A-mode signal location;
a processing unit configured to form a transient M-mode image based on the high frame rate ultrasound signal, and to obtain a propagation trace of a shear wave on the transient M-mode image;
a calculating unit configured to calculate a propagation speed of the shear wave based on the propagation trace, and to calculate an elasticity of the object based on the propagation speed of the shear wave; and
a display unit configured to display, simultaneously, the B-mode ultrasound image, the transient M-mode image, and the elasticity of the object.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ultrasound probe further includes an array of ultrasound elements and a vibrator installed inside the ultrasound probe, which is attached on a backing material of the array of ultrasound elements to apply vibration to the object,
wherein the object is in contact with a surface of the ultrasound probe.