Visualizing ultrasonically induced shear wave propagation using phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography for dynamic elastography

We report on the use of phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PhS-OCT) to detect and track temporal and spatial shear wave propagation within tissue, induced by ultrasound radiation force. Kilohertz-range shear waves are remotely generated in samples using focused ultrasound emission and their propagation is tracked using PhS-OCT. Cross-sectional maps of the local shear modulus are reconstructed from local estimates of shear wave speed in tissue-mimicking phantoms. We demonstrate the feasibility of combining ultrasound radiation force and PhS-OCT to perform high-resolution mapping of the shear modulus. © 2014 Optical Society of Americ