Quantitative elastography with tracked 2D ultrasound transducers

A method for measuring the mechanical properties in a volume of tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying an excitation to said volume of tissue with a vibration source;
• scanning said volume of tissue with a tracked ultrasound transducer;
• measuring said tracked ultrasound transducer locations relative to a base coordinate system;
• computing tissue displacements relative to said tracked ultrasound transducer from echo data measured by said tracked ultrasound transducer;
• converting said tissue displacements from said tracked ultrasound transducer coordinate system to said base coordinate system using said tracked ultrasound transducer locations;
• and
• calculating said mechanical properties in said volume of tissue from said tissue displacements in said base coordinate systems;
• wherein said vibration source is placed internally in a patient on the surface of an organ to be imaged.

A method for measuring the mechanical properties in a volume of tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying an excitation to said volume of tissue with a vibration source;
• scanning said volume of tissue with a tracked ultrasound transducer;
• measuring said tracked ultrasound transducer locations relative to a base coordinate system;
• computing tissue displacements relative to said tracked ultrasound transducer from echo data measured by said tracked ultrasound transducer;
• converting said tissue displacements from said tracked ultrasound transducer coordinate system to said base coordinate system using said tracked ultrasound transducer locations;
• and
• calculating said mechanical properties in said volume of tissue from said tissue displacements in said base coordinate systems;
• wherein said changing of the coordinate system of said tissue displacements to said base coordinate system comprises a phase compensation for time delays between subsequent ultrasound pulses.