Acoustic Radiation Force Based Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging for Biomedical Applications

Pathological changes in biological tissue are related to the changes in mechanical properties of biological tissue. Conventional medical screening tools such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography have failed to produce the elastic properties of biological tissues directly. Ultrasound elasticity imaging (UEI) has been proposed as a promising imaging tool to map the elastic parameters of soft tissues for the clinical diagnosis of various diseases include prostate, liver, breast, and thyroid gland. Existing UEI-based approaches can be classified into three groups: internal physiologic excitation, external excitation, and acoustic radiation force (ARF) excitation methods. Among these methods, ARF has become one of the most popular techniques for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of disease. This paper provides comprehensive information on the recently developed ARF-based UEI techniques and instruments for biomedical applications. The mechanical properties of soft tissue, ARF and displacement estimation methods, working principle and implementation instruments for each ARF-based UEI method are discussed.

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Value of conventional ultrasound, ultrasound elasticity imaging, and acoustic radiation force impulse elastography for prediction of malignancy in breast lesions

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation ◽

10.3233/ch-180527 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 74 (3) ◽

pp. 241-253 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shupin Zhang ◽

Jing Wan ◽

Hui Liu ◽

Minghua Yao ◽

Lihua Xiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acoustic Radiation ◽

Radiation Force ◽

Acoustic Radiation Force ◽

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse ◽

Breast Lesions ◽

Elasticity Imaging ◽

Conventional Ultrasound ◽

Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging

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Acoustic radiation force-based elasticity imaging methods

Interface Focus ◽

10.1098/rsfs.2011.0023 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 553-564 ◽

Cited By ~ 120

Author(s):

Mark L. Palmeri ◽

Kathryn R. Nightingale

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Soft Tissues ◽

Acoustic Radiation ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Radiation Force ◽

Acoustic Radiation Force ◽

Acoustic Properties ◽

Elasticity Imaging Techniques ◽

Elasticity Imaging ◽

Imaging Methods

Conventional diagnostic ultrasound images portray differences in the acoustic properties of soft tissues, whereas ultrasound-based elasticity images portray differences in the elastic properties of soft tissues (i.e. stiffness, viscosity). The benefit of elasticity imaging lies in the fact that many soft tissues can share similar ultrasonic echogenicities, but may have different mechanical properties that can be used to clearly visualize normal anatomy and delineate pathological lesions. Acoustic radiation force-based elasticity imaging methods use acoustic radiation force to transiently deform soft tissues, and the dynamic displacement response of those tissues is measured ultrasonically and is used to estimate the tissue's mechanical properties. Both qualitative images and quantitative elasticity metrics can be reconstructed from these measured data, providing complimentary information to both diagnose and longitudinally monitor disease progression. Recently, acoustic radiation force-based elasticity imaging techniques have moved from the laboratory to the clinical setting, where clinicians are beginning to characterize tissue stiffness as a diagnostic metric, and commercial implementations of radiation force-based ultrasonic elasticity imaging are beginning to appear on the commercial market. This article provides an overview of acoustic radiation force-based elasticity imaging, including a review of the relevant soft tissue material properties, a review of radiation force-based methods that have been proposed for elasticity imaging, and a discussion of current research and commercial realizations of radiation force based-elasticity imaging technologies.

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