Noise performance and signal-to-noise ratio of shear strain elastograms.
In this paper, we develop a theoretical expression for the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of shear strain elastograms. The previously-developed ideas for the axial strain filter (ASF) and lateral strain filter (LSF) are extended to define the concept of the shear strain filter (SSF). Some of our theoretical results are verified using simulations and phantom experiments. The results indicate that the signal-to-noise ratio of shear-strain elastograms (SNRsse) improves with increasing shear strain and with improvements in system parameters such as the sonographic signal-to-noise ratio (SNRs) beamwidth, center frequency and fractional bandwidth. The results also indicate that the amount of axial strain present along with the shear strain is an important parameter that determines the upper bound on SNRsse. The SNRsse will be higher in the absence of additional deformation due to axial strain.
The University of Texas Medical School, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, Ultrasonics Laboratory, Houston 77030, USA.
Arun Thitai
AT
Kumar
Jonathan
J
Ophir
Thomas A
TA
Krouskop
D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D033081:Shear Strength; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*