Computational Modeling of an Elastography Technique Based on Measurements of the Multilayer Wave Propagation Shear Velocity: Preliminary Results

Ultrasound elastography is a rather recent diagnostic method that is aimed for evaluating the stiffness of the tissues of the human body. Its usefulness is based on the fact that tissues having some pathologies are generally more rigid than the surrounding healthy tissues. Shear wave elastography is a technique based on measuring the speed of propagation of these shear waves through biological tissue to determine its elasticity, and thus determine if there is any pathology. This article presents an analysis using the finite element method to measure the propagation speed of shear waves at different frequencies (50, 200, 500 and 1000 Hz) through a multilayer geometry that simulates the upper right side of the cutaway stomach. In the graphs we obtained at several frequencies, the shear wave propagation speed increases as the tissue stiffness increases. With this result, we will be able to predict the health of a muscle based on its elasticity measurement.