Normal & Shear Strain Imaging From Angled US Acquisition

描述（由申请人提供）： 弹性成像的当前实践仅对应变张量的轴向分量成像，而基本上忽略了侧向和立面应变张量分量。在没有横向和垂直分量的情况下，其他重要的弹性参数，如剪切应变和泊松系数，不能成像。此外，努力重建的杨氏模量从应变数据将显着改善，如果所有的正常和剪切应变张量。在这项研究中，我们提出了一种新的方法来估计在超声弹性成像的轴向，横向和高度方向的位移和应变。该方法使用利用线性阵列换能器采集的沿沿着多个角度超声束方向估计的组织位移分量。应变弹性图的正常和剪切张量，然后计算从轴向和侧向位移信息，除了泊松比信息。 该研究计划开发和优化这种方法，用于最先进的扫描仪，使用模拟来评估采集速率，角度和数据精度之间的权衡。这些技术的实施将在西门子AnglomerTM扫描仪上进行，利用新开发的超声研究接口，以促进角束数据采集和控制。使用弹性成像模型的测试将产生性能基准。还将开发两种新的体模类型，以评价获得这些图像中预期的基本信息的能力。最后，将对切除的组织样本进行成像，以评估获得的新弹性信息。 该方法的临床应用将被引导用于区分乳腺和甲状腺中的恶性和良性肿块。在这两个部位，当组织被压缩时，许多良性肿块都会发生侧向滑动，而恶性肿块似乎不存在滑动。预计所提出的横向和剪切应变图像对这种现象特别敏感。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The current practice of elastography, images only the axial component of the strain tensor, while the lateral and elevational strain tensor components are basically disregarded. In the absence of lateral and elevational components, other important elastic parameters such as shear strains and Poisson's are not imaged. Moreover, efforts at reconstruction of the Young's modulus from strain data would be significantly improved if all the normal and shear strain tensors are available. In this research, we propose a novel method of estimating displacements and strains in axial, lateral and elevational directions in ultrasound elastography imaging. The method uses tissue displacement components estimated along multiple angular ultrasound beam directions acquired with linear array transducers. Strain elastograms of normal and shear tensors are then calculated from the axial and lateral displacement information in addition to Poisson's ratio information. The research plan develops and optimizes this method for a state-of-the-art scanner using simulations to evaluate tradeoffs between acquisition rate, angles and data accuracy. Implementation of the techniques will be on the Siemens Antares scanner, capitalizing on a newly developed ultrasound research interface to facilitate angular beam data acquisition and control. Tests using elastography phantoms will yield performance benchmarks. Two new phantom types will also be developed to evaluate the ability to derive the fundamental information expected in these images. Finally, excised tissue samples will be imaged to evaluate the new elasticity information obtained. Clinical applications where the methodology will be directed are in differentiating malignant from benign masses in the breast and thyroid. In both sites lateral slippage is believed to occur in many benign masses when the tissue is compressed, while slippage appears to be absent with malignant masses. The proposed lateral and shear strain images are expected to be particularly sensitive to such phenomena.