Non-linear tissue elasticity: adaptive elasticity imaging for large deformations

Ultrasound's dynamic and interactive (i.e., real-time) nature is it's major advantage compared to other imaging modalities. For elasticity imaging, real-time data capture provides an excellent foundation for retrospective data processing, including adaptive speckle tracking, incompressibility processing, and adaptive elasticity imaging. In this paper, we explore adaptive imaging of elasticity to estimate nonlinear tissue elasticity. Remote assessment of nonlinear tissue elasticity (i.e., strain hardening) can both increase contrast in elasticity images and present an independent means of tissue differentiation.