Adaptive image optimization in induced wave ultrasound imaging

1. A method for adaptive image optimization in induced wave ultrasound imaging, the method comprising:

transmitting, from a transducer of an ultrasound system, acoustic energy into a patient;

generating a wave in response to the transmitting;

scanning, with a beamformer of the ultrasound system, a region of the patient with ultrasound;

detecting, from the scanning, displacement of tissue caused by the wave; and

changing a transmit setting of the ultrasound system for transmit operation subsequent to the transmitting, the transmit setting being for a transmit frequency, line spacing, F-number, pulse repetition frequency, line sampling count, acoustic energy amplitude, acoustic energy pulse length, or combinations thereof and the transmit setting changing to a value that is a function of the displacement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wave comprises a longitudinal wave, and the acts of transmitting, generating, scanning and detecting being performed as acoustic radiation force imaging.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wave comprises a shear wave, and the acts of transmitting, generating, scanning and detecting being performed as shear wave imaging.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein changing to the value that is the function of the displacement comprises:

calculating a signal-to-noise ratio of the displacement; and

adapting the transmit setting as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein calculating the signal-to-noise ratio comprises calculating a magnitude of the displacement and dividing the magnitude by a value of one for the noise.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein changing to the value that is the function of the displacement comprises:

calculating a wave distance or wave velocity from the displacement; and

adapting the transmit setting as a function of the wave distance or wave velocity.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein changing further comprises adapting the transmit setting as a function of off time of the transmitting, the off time being a limitation due to transducer or tissue temperature.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein changing comprises:

performing the transmitting, generating, scanning, and detecting with a first value of the transmit setting;

repeating the transmitting, generating, scanning, and detecting with different values of the setting; and

selecting the value as one of the values for the setting.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein changing comprises:

performing the transmitting, generating, scanning, and detecting with a first value of the transmit frequency;

repeating the transmitting at different values of the transmit frequency;

setting the value of the transmit frequency of the acoustic energy as a function of a highest of the displacements caused by the performance and repetition at the different values of the transmit frequency.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein changing comprises:

performing the scanning with a first value of a scanning frequency;

repeating the scanning at different values of the scanning frequency;

calculating signal-to-noise ratios from the displacements detected from the performing and repeating of the scanning; and

setting the transmit frequency of the scanning as a function of the signal-to-noise ratios.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein changing comprises:

calculating a shear wave velocity as a function of the displacement;

setting a line spacing as a line density for the scanning, the line spacing being a function of the shear wave velocity.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein changing comprises setting the line spacing for a lateral distance, the lateral distance being a function of the displacement.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein changing comprises setting the F-number as a function of the displacement such that greater focus is provided for lesser displacement and lesser focus is provided for greater displacement.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein changing comprises:

calculating a maximum wave velocity; and

setting the pulse repetition frequency of the scanning as a function of the maximum velocity.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein setting comprises setting the pulse repetition frequency and the line sampling count as a function of the maximum velocity, the line sampling count being a number of repetitions of the transmitting, generating, scanning and detecting for each scan line.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein changing comprises:

performing the transmitting, generating, scanning, and detecting with a first value of the acoustic energy amplitude;

repeating the transmitting, generating, scanning and detecting with different values of the acoustic energy amplitude for the acoustic energy; and

setting the acoustic energy amplitude as a function of the displacements caused by the different values.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein changing further comprises interpolating or extrapolating a setting.