Abdominal acoustic radiation force impulse imaging

Abstract

The ability of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging to interrogate deep-lying abdominal tissues was investigated. Challenges involved in using ARFI imaging at depth include generating sufficient radiation force to measurably displace deep-lying tissues and tracking these small (0-3 μm;) tissue displacements with low PRF tracking pulses. Beam sequences were modified and optimized to meet these challenges, and viable in vivo human abdominal ARFI images were acquired at depths reaching 10 cm. Safety concerns due to induced tissue heating are also addressed through the use of finite element method models. © 2004 IEEE.