ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHEAR WAVE CHARACTERIZATION OF ANISOTROPIC TISSUE

摘要

Ultrasound systems and methods for shear wave elastography (SWE) imaging are described which may improve the scan protocol for SWE imaging of anisotropic tissue. One or more initial measurements may be acquired to determine the orientation of the anisotropic tissue. The system acquires shear wave speed and/or stiffness measurements from at least two perpendicular intersecting planes through the anisotropic tissue and reports, a shear wave speed and/or stiffness measurement along the perpendicular intersecting planes and/or a composite measurement based upon the plurality of individual shear wave speed and/or stiffness measurement obtained at the different image planes. Improvements to the SWE imaging protocol may be achieved by providing guidance by way of an improved graphical user interface, to assist the sonographer in acquiring measurements at suitable imaging planes for more accurately characterizing the anisotropic tissue. The SWE imaging protocol may be an automatic or semi-automatic protocol.