Method and apparatus for providing real-time calculation and display of tissue deformation in ultrasound imaging

US6676599B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• G.E. Vingmed Ultrasound AS · NO

Inventors

• Hans Torp · Trondheim, NO
• Bjorn Olstad · Stathelle, NO
• Andreas Heimdal · Oslo, NO
• Steinar Bjaerum · Horten, NO

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 22, 2002
• Grant date: Jan 13, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S7/52057
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An ultrasound system and method for calculation and display of tissue deformation parameters are disclosed. Tissue velocity may be estimated by filtering a received ultrasound signal at three center frequencies related to the second harmonic of the ultrasound signal, estimating a reference tissue velocity from the two signals filtered at the outside center frequencies and using the reference tissue velocity to choose a tissue velocity from tissue velocities estimated using the middle center frequency. Estimation of strain rate in any direction, not necessarily along the ultrasound beam, is disclosed. Quantitative tissue deformation parameters may be presented as functions of time and/or spatial position for applications such as stress echo. For example, strain rate or strain values for three different stress levels may be plotted together with respect to time over a cardiac cycle. Parameters derived from strain rate or strain velocity may be plotted with respect to various stress levels.