Abstract: For clutter reduction in ultrasound elasticity imaging, the contribution of clutter to different frequency components (e.g., the transmit fundamental and the propagation generated second harmonic) is different. As a result, a difference in displacements determined at the different frequency bands is used to reduce clutter contribution to displacements used for elasticity imaging.

Abstract: For clutter reduction in ultrasound elasticity imaging, the contribution of clutter to different frequency components (e.g., the transmit fundamental and the propagation generated second harmonic) is different. As a result, a difference in displacements determined at the different frequency bands is used to reduce clutter contribution to displacements used for elasticity imaging.

Abstract: Asymmetry is provided for the pushing pulse in acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging. MI is based on the negative pressure. By increasing the positive pressure more than the negative pressure, the magnitude of displacement may be increased without exceeding the MI limit. Similarly, negative voltages depole while positive do not, so using an ARFI or pushing pulse with asymmetric positive-to-negative peak pressures or voltages allows for generation of greater magnitude of displacement without harm to the transducer.

Abstract: For viscoelastic estimation with ultrasound, shear wave speed is measured for different locations in a region of interest. For each location, the shear wave speed is estimated without frequency band division. A distribution of shear wave speeds in the region of interest is matched a modeled distribution corresponding to a particular value of the viscoelastic property.

Abstract: Asymmetry is provided for the pushing pulse in acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging. MI is based on the negative pressure. By increasing the positive pressure more than the negative pressure, the magnitude of displacement may be increased without exceeding the MI limit. Similarly, negative voltages depole while positive do not, so using an ARFI or pushing pulse with asymmetric positive-to-negative peak pressures or voltages allows for generation of greater magnitude of displacement without harm to the transducer.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region, include determining a prior probability density function that characterizes at least one physical property of the target region; generating a displacement of the sample in the target region to form a shear wave that propagates orthogonal to a direction of the displacement; transmitting tracking pulses in the target region; receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the target region at a plurality of lateral positions; estimating a propagation parameter of the shear wave in response to the echo signals and the prior probability density function using statistical inference; and determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on the estimated propagation parameter.

Abstract: For clutter reduction in ultrasound elasticity imaging, the contribution of clutter to different frequency components (e.g., the transmit fundamental and the propagation generated second harmonic) is different. As a result, a difference in displacements determined at the different frequency bands is used to reduce clutter contribution to displacements used for elasticity imaging.

Abstract: For viscoelastic estimation with ultrasound, shear wave speed is measured for different locations in a region of interest. For each location, the shear wave speed is estimated without frequency band division. A distribution of shear wave speeds in the region of interest is matched a modeled distribution corresponding to a particular value of the viscoelastic property.

Abstract: In shear wave imaging with an ultrasound scanner, multiple frames of shear wave data representing the same region of interest are acquired in response to a respective multiple ARFI transmissions. Instead of a fixed or same combination of focal locations for the ARFI transmissions, the focal locations of the ARFI transmissions are varied (e.g., randomly selected) between different frames of shear wave information. By combining the frames, a shear wave image may be generated with less missing data and/or shadowing effects.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a mechanical parameter for a sample having a target region, include determining a prior probability density function that characterizes at least one physical property of the target region; generating a displacement of the sample in the target region to form a shear wave that propagates orthogonal to a direction of the displacement; transmitting tracking pulses in the target region; receiving corresponding echo signals for the tracking pulses in the target region at a plurality of lateral positions; estimating a propagation parameter of the shear wave in response to the echo signals and the prior probability density function using statistical inference; and determining at least one mechanical parameter of the target region based on the estimated propagation parameter.

Abstract: A system for identifying a presence of an object in a tissue region of interest includes a controller configured to obtain first and second image data sets from the region of interest. A contrast identification module is configured to identify a contrasting region of altered stiffness in the first image data set corresponding to an object in the tissue region of interest. An image data enhancement module is configured to identify the object in the second image data set based on the contrasting region of altered stiffness in the first image data set.

Abstract: A system for identifying a presence of an object in a tissue region of interest includes a controller configured to obtain first and second image data sets from the region of interest. A contrast identification module is configured to identify a contrasting region of altered stiffness in the first image data set corresponding to an object in the tissue region of interest. An image data enhancement module is configured to identify the object in the second image data set based on the contrasting region of altered stiffness in the first image data set.