A kind of acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detection method and system
Technical field
This application involves ultrasonic imaging technique more particularly to a kind of acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detection methods and system.
Background technology
The core of acoustic radiation force imaging is to carry out quantitative analysis to tissue hardness by capturing shearing wave.Shear-wave velocity
Estimation is the key that Young's modulus (hardness) calculating, and the basis of imaging.Seminar of Duke University is in paper《Acoustic
Radiation Force Impulse Imaging:in Vivo Demonstration of Clinical
Feasibility》In propose TOF (Time of Flight, flight time) method carry out shear wave velocity estimation.Such as Fig. 1
It is shown, after being impacted to 30 positions of impact using acoustic radiation force, two location points are chosen on tissue 10:First detection
Position and the second check bit, Δ R is denoted as by distance among them, and calculate shearing wave 20 by cross-correlation method draws 2 positions
The displacement risen.20 wave crest of shearing wave is denoted as t respectively by 2 points of time1And t2, 20 speed of shearing wave isTOF methods
Realize very simple, computational efficiency height.
But TOF methods also have following defect:TOF methods require the shearing wave depth location for first finding out most strong displacement (i.e. burnt
Point position), then flight curve is drawn, shear wave velocity is then calculated by the crest location found in flight curve.But it looks for
There is following requirement in quasi- focal position:1, the precision of computing cross-correlation must be increased, i.e., must select small window and small step progress
Row computing cross-correlation.Operation time can be greatly increased in this way, and operation Duplication and redundancy are very big.2, to radiating force signal
Signal-to-noise ratio requires height, and noise spot is otherwise easy to be mistakenly considered focus.TOF also has some shortcomings, such as focus is only utilized
Shearing wave, is assumed to be single wave by the shearing wave information of position, and the shearing wave data useless for comprehensively utilizing other depth in this way
Perfect condition.It is this to assume to receive inside body uniformly imitating with medium, it is inhomogeneous but if uneven having
It is propagated in object, shearing wave has the characteristic of more complexity, such as divides, refraction etc..The single shearing wave for calculating focal position
Error-prone.The information of focal position in transposed matrix is only utilized in TOF methods, not to the shearing wave displacement in other depth
There is good utilization.In the case where radiant force effect is good, TOF methods can accurately estimate shear wave velocity.But in reality
In the application of human body or animal, radiant force effect can be interfered very much, and the focal position in transposed matrix is not easy to find, and
When acoustic radiation force effect is weaker, displacement of tissue unobvious caused by shearing wave are difficult to find crest location accurately and carry out using TOF methods
Wave velocity estimation.
Invention content
A kind of acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detection method of the application offer and system.
According to the application's in a first aspect, the application provides a kind of acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detection method, feature exists
In, including:
Impact position, the first check bit and the second check bit are selected respectively, and acoustic radiation force punching is carried out to the impact position
It hits;
The data for acquiring first check bit and second check bit are respectively processed, and obtain m- depth at two groups
Degree-shearing wave transposed matrix;
Along depth direction respectively to described in two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix add up, obtain two groups by tiring out
Sum it up the cumulative displacement array of composition;
Respectively to described in two groups add up displacement array carry out maximum value search, using maximum value as shearing wave crest location at
Time;
According to the distance between first check bit and second check bit and first check bit and described
The shearing wave crest location time of two check bits, shear wave velocity is calculated.
The above method, it is described along depth direction respectively to described in two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix tire out
Add, including:Local data is chosen to add up.
The above method, it is described along depth direction respectively to described in two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix add up
Before, further include:To it is described when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix carry out lateral interpolation.
The above method, it is described along depth direction respectively to described in two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix add up
Before, further include:To it is described when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix carry out lateral filtering.
The data of the above method, the acquisition first check bit and second check bit are respectively processed, and are had
Body includes:Using cross-correlation analysis respectively at first check bit and the data of second check bit acquisition
Reason.
According to the second aspect of the application, the application provides a kind of acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detecting system, including:
Selecting module, for selecting impact position, the first check bit and the second check bit respectively, to the impact position into
Row acoustic radiation force impacts;
Acquisition module, the data for acquiring first check bit and second check bit are respectively processed, obtain
Go out m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix at two groups;
Accumulator module, for along depth direction respectively to described in two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix tire out
Add, obtains two groups of cumulative displacement arrays by adding up and forming;
Searching module, for carrying out maximum value search to the displacement array that adds up described in two groups respectively, using maximum value as cutting
Cut the time at wave crest location;
Processing module, for according to the distance between first check bit and second check bit and first inspection
The shearing wave crest location time of location and second check bit, shear wave velocity is calculated.
Above system, the accumulator module are additionally operable to selection local data and add up.
Above system, the accumulator module, be additionally operable to it is described when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix laterally insert
Value.
Above system, the accumulator module, be additionally operable to it is described when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix carry out lateral filter
Wave.
Above system, the acquisition module are additionally operable to using cross-correlation analysis respectively in first check bit and institute
The data for stating the acquisition of the second check bit are handled.
As a result of above technical scheme, the advantageous effect that the application has is made to be:
In the specific implementation mode of the application, along depth direction respectively to two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix
It adds up, obtains two groups of cumulative displacement arrays by adding up and forming, maximum value is carried out to two groups of cumulative displacement arrays respectively
Search, using maximum value as the time at shearing wave crest location, according to the distance between the first check bit and the second check bit
And first check bit and the second check bit the shearing wave crest location time, shear wave velocity is calculated.The application is without seeking
The focal position in transposed matrix is looked for, but first transposed matrix is added up along depth direction, comprehensively utilizes the shearing of different depth
Wave wave crest information, find out with most shearing wave wave crests by time location, find out the lateral position where maximum value, i.e.,
Shear wave velocity can be calculated.
Description of the drawings
Fig. 1 is shear-wave velocity estimation principle figure;
Fig. 2 is the flow chart of the acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detection method of the application in one embodiment;
Fig. 3 is the structural schematic diagram of the acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detecting system of the application in one embodiment.
Specific implementation mode
The application is described in further detail below by specific implementation mode combination attached drawing.
Embodiment one:
As shown in Figure 1, the acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detection method of the application, a kind of embodiment, including following step
Suddenly:
Step 102:Impact position, the first check bit and the second check bit are selected respectively, and acoustic radiation is carried out to impact position
Power is impacted.
Step 104:The data for acquiring the first check bit and the second check bit are respectively processed, and obtain m- depth at two groups
Degree-shearing wave transposed matrix.
In one embodiment, it acquires the first check bit and the data of the second check bit is respectively processed, specifically may be used
To include:Using cross-correlation analysis respectively to being handled in the data of the first check bit and the acquisition of the second check bit.Cross-correlation
Window that need not be too small in calculating is long and step-length, reduction operation time can save system resource.
Step 106:Along depth direction respectively to two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix add up, obtain two groups
By the cumulative displacement array for adding up and forming.
In one embodiment, along depth direction respectively to two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix tire out
Add, may include choosing local data to add up.The selection of wherein local data position includes:If when m- depth-shearing wave
Transposed matrix size is M rows N row, centered on longitudinal center point, respectively takes the data length of M/4 to add up up and down along longitudinal direction.
Because of the position of focus in transposed matrix) it is likely near longitudinal center, the data near longitudinal center have most strong
Shearing wave displacement.
In one embodiment, along depth direction respectively to described in two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix carry out
Can also include the steps that the m- depth of clock synchronization-shearing wave transposed matrix carries out lateral interpolation before cumulative.In another embodiment party
In formula, along depth direction respectively to described in two groups when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix add up before, can also include pair
M- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix is laterally filtered when described.
Step 108:Maximum value search is carried out to two groups of cumulative displacement arrays respectively, using maximum value as shearing wave wave crest position
Set the time at place.
Comprehensively utilize different depth shearing wave wave crest information, find out with most shearing wave wave crests by when meta position
It sets.This way has more statistical significance, makes final shearing wave in the case that radiant force poor signal or medium are non-uniform
Velocity estimation result is more stablized.
Step 110:According to the distance between the first check bit and the second check bit and the first check bit and the second check bit
The shearing wave crest location time, shear wave velocity is calculated.It can specifically be calculated by following formula:Its
Displacements of the middle △ R between the first check bit and the second check bit, △ t are that the wave crest of shearing wave passes through the first check bit and second
The time difference of check bit.
Since the echo data processing mode of the first check bit and the second check bit is the same, so here with the first check bit
Echo data for be described in detail:
1. the first check bit gathered data size of hypothesis is M*N, it will be appreciated that acquire longitudinal length in the first check bit
For the data of M, n times are acquired.
2. pair data matrix adjacent column carries out cross-correlation Displacement Estimation calculating, if step-length is Step, window is a length of
WinLength finally show that cross-correlation transposed matrix size is K* (N-1), wherein K=[(M-WinLength)/Step]+1.
This matrix m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix when being.
3. the m- depth of clock synchronization-shearing wave transposed matrix carries out data accumulation along depth direction, i.e. column direction, length is obtained
For the cumulative and one-dimension array of N-1.
4. traversing maximizing in cumulative and array, and records and be designated as T1 under maximum value.
5. above method pair the second check bit data are run, T2 is obtained.According to formulaAcquire shear wave velocity
Degree, whereinΔR distances between the first check bit and the second check bit, by being determined when chosen position.
In the ideal situation, the position for carrying out radiant force impact is the focus in transposed matrix;But reality is impossible
, due to the uncertainty of the shearing wave wave source position of excitation, focus (the i.e. strongest propagation position of wave source energy of transposed matrix
Set) it is unknown, it needs to be calculated according to the transposed matrix calculated, estimates focal position.Common method is direct
The position that transposed matrix maximum value is found out along depth direction is judged as focal position, and the application is first transposed matrix edge
Depth direction is cumulative, find out maximum value lateral position, can directly calculate shear wave velocity, settle at one go.The application's
Acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detection method comprehensively utilizes the shearing wave wave crest information of different depth, finds out with most shearing waves
Wave crest by time location.This way has more statistical significance, in radiant force poor signal or the non-uniform feelings of medium
Final shear wave velocity estimated result is set more to stablize under condition.When weaker present application addresses acoustic radiation force effect, shearing wave draws
The displacement of tissue unobvious risen are difficult to find crest location accurately and the problem of carry out wave velocity estimation using TOF methods.
Embodiment two:
As shown in figure 3, the acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detecting system of the application, a kind of embodiment, including selection mould
Block, acquisition module and accumulator module.Selecting module is right for selecting impact position, the first check bit and the second check bit respectively
Impact position carries out acoustic radiation force impact.Acquisition module, for acquire the data of the first check bit and the second check bit respectively into
Row processing, obtains m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix at two groups.Accumulator module, for along depth direction respectively to two groups when
M- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix adds up, and obtains two groups of cumulative displacement arrays by adding up and forming.Searching module is used
In respectively to described in two groups add up displacement array carry out maximum value search, using maximum value as at shearing wave crest location when
Between.Processing module, for according to the distance between the first check bit and the second check bit and the first check bit and the second check bit
The shearing wave crest location time, shear wave velocity is calculated.
The acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detecting system of the application, accumulator module can be also used for choosing local data's progress
It is cumulative.The selection of wherein local data position includes:If when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix size be M rows N row, with longitudinal direction
Centered on central point, the data length of M/4 is respectively taken to add up up and down along longitudinal direction.Because of the position of focus in transposed matrix)
It is likely near longitudinal center, so the data near longitudinal center have strongest shearing wave displacement.
In one embodiment, accumulator module can be also used for the m- depth of clock synchronization-shearing wave transposed matrix and carry out cross
To interpolation.In another embodiment, accumulator module, can be also used for it is described when m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix into
Row laterally filtering.
The acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detecting system of the application, acquisition module can be also used for utilizing cross-correlation analysis point
It is other that the data acquired in the first check bit and the second check bit are handled.Need not be too small in cross-correlation calculation window length and
Step-length reduces operation time, can save system resource.
Since the echo data processing mode of the first check bit and the second check bit is the same, so here with the first check bit
Echo data for be described in detail:
1. the first check bit gathered data size of hypothesis is M*N, it will be appreciated that acquire longitudinal length in the first check bit
For the data of M, n times are acquired.
2. pair data matrix adjacent column carries out cross-correlation Displacement Estimation calculating, if step-length is Step, window is a length of
WinLength finally show that cross-correlation transposed matrix size is K* (N-1), wherein K=[(M-WinLength)/Step]+1.
This matrix m- depth-shearing wave transposed matrix when being.
3. the m- depth of clock synchronization-shearing wave transposed matrix carries out data accumulation along depth direction, i.e. column direction, length is obtained
For the cumulative and one-dimension array of N-1.
4. traversing maximizing in cumulative and array, and records and be designated as T1 under maximum value.
5. above method pair the second check bit data are run, T2 is obtained.According to formulaAcquire shear wave velocity
Degree, whereinΔR distances between the first check bit and the second check bit, by being determined when chosen position.
In the ideal situation, the position for carrying out radiant force impact is the focus in transposed matrix;But reality is impossible
, due to the uncertainty of the shearing wave wave source position of excitation, focus (the i.e. strongest propagation position of wave source energy of transposed matrix
Set) it is unknown, it needs to be calculated according to the transposed matrix calculated, estimates focal position.Common method is direct
The position that transposed matrix maximum value is found out along depth direction is judged as focal position, and the application is first transposed matrix edge
Depth direction is cumulative, find out maximum value lateral position, can directly calculate shear wave velocity, settle at one go.The application's
Acoustic radiation shear-wave velocity detection method comprehensively utilizes the shearing wave wave crest information of different depth, finds out with most shearing waves
Wave crest by time location.This way has more statistical significance, in radiant force poor signal or the non-uniform feelings of medium
Final shear wave velocity estimated result is set more to stablize under condition.When weaker present application addresses acoustic radiation force effect, shearing wave draws
The displacement of tissue unobvious risen are difficult to find crest location accurately and the problem of carry out wave velocity estimation using TOF methods.
The foregoing is a further detailed description of the present application in conjunction with specific implementation manners, and it cannot be said that this Shen
Specific implementation please is confined to these explanations.For those of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs, it is not taking off
Under the premise of conceiving from the application, a number of simple deductions or replacements can also be made.