Estimates of echo correlation and measurement bias in acoustic radiation force impulse imaging

• Published in: IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 631 - 641
• Main Authors: McAleavey, S.A., Nightingale, K.R., Trahey, G.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-06-2003; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Acoustic beams; Acoustic imaging; Acoustic measurements; Acoustic pulses; Acoustic radiation; Acoustic signal processing; Acoustics; Biological and medical sciences; Computer Simulation; Connective Tissue - diagnostic imaging; Connective Tissue - physiology; Connective Tissue - radiation effects; Decorrelation; Displacement; Echo surveys; Elasticity; Estimates; Exact sciences and technology; Force measurement; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Imaging; Impulses; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Mathematical models; Medical sciences; Micromanipulation - instrumentation; Micromanipulation - methods; Miscellaneous. Technology; Models, Biological; Models, Statistical; Motion; Numerical simulation; Physical Stimulation - instrumentation; Physical Stimulation - methods; Physics; Reproducibility of Results; Scattering, Radiation; Sensitivity and Specificity; Shear Strength; Statistics as Topic; Stress, Mechanical; Tracking; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonic variables measurement; Ultrasonics; Ultrasonography - methods; Ultrasound; Human; Tissue; Acoustic measurement; Image processing; Bias; Cross correlation; Acoustic radiation; Decorrelation; Acoustic image; Elastography
• ISSN: 0885-3010; 1525-8955
• DOI: 10.1109/TUFFC.2003.1209550

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is a novel imaging modality in which pulses from a diagnostic ultrasound scanner are used to displace tissue and track its motion. The region displaced has lateral and elevational dimensions of similar scale to the ultrasound beams used to track the motion. Therefore, there is a range of tissue displacements present within the tracking beam, leading to decorrelation of the echo signal. Expressions are derived for the expected value of the displacement estimate and the cross-correlation at the expected displacement. Numerical simulations confirm the analytical model.