Three-Dimensional Visualization of Ultrasonically Induced Shear Waves for Elasticity Imaging

摘要: Shear wave elasticity imaging has shown considerable promise for understanding tissue mechanics and its relationship to disease [1–3]. However, most dynamic elasticity imaging has employed steady state [2, 3] or quasi-steady state [1] excitation. Due to reflections, interference, and standing waves, these methods generally require relatively sophisticated elasticity reconstructions [4]. Transient shear wave (TSW) imaging [5–7], however, may allow one to use a simple wave-speed based elasticity reconstruction: µ= ρc2, where µ is the shear elastic modulus, ρ is the density, and c is the shear wave speed. It is also possible to employ more complicated methods [7]. To date, all TSW elasticity imaging has employed one-or twodimensional (2D) reconstructions. However, as was shown for static elasticity imaging [8], three-dimensional (3D) TSW methods may offer more accuracy than 2D methods. Here we present a 3D visualization of ultrasonically induced shear waves in a tissue-like phantom which may be used for 3D elasticity reconstruction.