Methods, systems and computer readable media for applying multi-push acoustic radiation force to samples and monitoring a response to quantify mechanical properties of samples

1. A method for determining a quantitative value for a mechanical property of a sample, the method comprising:

applying a plurality of pulses of acoustic energy to a sample to apply a mechanical force to the sample and induce a non-steady-state displacement in the sample;

monitoring a response of the sample caused by the application of the mechanical force; and

determining a quantitative value for a mechanical property of the sample based on the response.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein applying a plurality of pulses of acoustic energy includes applying first and second successive pulses of acoustic energy to the sample.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein monitoring a response of the sample includes monitoring a response of the sample while the sample is being displaced in a direction of the application of the mechanical force and monitoring a displacement in a direction opposite the direction of the application of the mechanical force caused by recovery of the sample after application of the first pulse and before application of the mechanical force by the second pulse.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein applying the first and second successive pulses includes spacing the first and second successive pulses in time such that only partial recovery of the sample is achieved after application of the first pulse and before application of the second pulse.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein applying a plurality of pulses includes applying the pulses using a first transducer and wherein monitoring the response includes monitoring the response using a second transducer separate from the first transducer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein applying a plurality of pulses includes applying the pulses using the same transducer used to measure the response.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a quantitative value for a mechanical property parameter includes determining the quantitative value using a mechanical model for viscoelasticity.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the mechanical model comprises the Voigt model, the standard linear model or the Maxwell model.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical property comprises at least one relaxation time constant.

10. The method of claim 9 comprising determining a steady state displacement of the sample from the at least one relaxation time constant and an observed displacement from at least one excitation.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical property comprises a coefficient of viscosity or an elastic modulus.

12. A system for determining a quantitative value for a mechanical property of a sample, the system comprising:

at least one acoustic transducer for applying a plurality of pulses of acoustic energy to a sample to apply a mechanical force to the sample and induce a non-steady-state displacement in the sample and for monitoring a response of the sample caused by the application of the mechanical force; and

a mechanical properties estimator for determining a quantitative value for a mechanical property of the sample based on the response.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one acoustic transducer is configured to apply first and second successive pulses of acoustic energy to the sample.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one acoustic transducer is configured to monitor a response of the sample while the sample is being displaced in a direction of the mechanical force and to monitor a displacement in a direction opposite the direction of the mechanical force caused by recovery of the sample after application of the first pulse and before application of the second pulse.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the at least one acoustic transducer is configured to space the first and second successive pulses in time such that only partial recovery of the sample is achieved after application of the first pulse and before application of the second pulse.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one acoustic transducer is configured to monitor a partial recovery response of the sample after application of the first pulse and before application of the second pulse.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one acoustic transducer comprises a single acoustic transducer use for applying the mechanical force and performing the monitoring.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least one acoustic transducer comprises a first acoustic transducer for applying the mechanical force and a second acoustic transducer separate from the first acoustic transducer for performing the monitoring.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the mechanical properties estimator is configured to determine the quantitative value for the mechanical property using a mechanical model for viscoelasticity.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the mechanical model comprises the Voigt model, the standard linear model, or the Maxwell model.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the mechanical property comprises at least one relaxation time constant.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the mechanical properties estimator is configured to determine a steady state displacement of the sample from the at least one relaxation time constant and an observed displacement from at least one excitation.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the mechanical property comprises a coefficient of viscosity or an elastic modulus.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

applying a plurality of pulses of acoustic energy to a sample to apply a mechanical force to the sample and induce a non-steady-state displacement in the sample;

monitoring a response of the sample caused by the application of the mechanical force; and

determining a quantitative value for a mechanical property of the sample based on the response.