METHOD FOR ULTRASOUND ELASTOGRAPHY THROUGH CONTINUOUS VIBRATION OF AN ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER

摘要

A method for imaging an object by ultrasound elastography through continuous vibration of the ultrasound transducer is taught. An actuator directly in contact with the ultrasound transducer continuously vibrates the transducer in an axial direction, inducing shear waves in the tissue and allowing for real-time shear wave imaging. Axial motion of the transducer contaminates the shear wave images of the tissue, and must be suppressed. Therefore, several methods for correcting for shear wave artifact caused by the motion of the transducer are additionally taught.