Ultrasound Vibrometry

A method for measuring a mechanical property of a subject includes using an ultrasonic transducer to apply ultrasonic vibration pulses to a vibration origin in the subject in an on-off time sequence in order to impart a harmonic motion at a prescribed frequency to the subject, and when the vibration pulses are off, using the same transducer to apply ultrasonic detection pulses to a motion detection point and to receive echo signals therefrom in order to sense the harmonic motion on the subject at the motion detection point. From the harmonic signal information, a harmonic signal is detected and a characteristic such as amplitude or phase of the detected harmonic signal is measured. The mechanical property is calculated using the measured characteristic using for example a wave speed dispersion method. Patent No.: US 7,753,847 Date of Patent: July 13, 2010 Filed: Sept 28, 2006 Int. Cl.: A61B 8/00 (2006.01) U.S. Cl.: 600/438; 600/443; 73/574; 73/579; 73/587; 73/609 CPC Cl.: A61B 5/0048 (2013.01); A61B 8/485 (2013.01); A61B 8/00 (2013.01) Field of Search: 600/438,443; 73/574,579,587,60